“Throughout, the Russians have been backing the Syrians, covering up and masking the many events in which chemical weapons have been used by the Syrians,“ says Shoham. “So, in this case too, clearly that is what they’re trying to do. They denied use by Assad’s army in the past so the chance is small that this time the Russian claim is true.”

Answering arguments that an explosion resulting from a strike would have neutralized the sarin, Saham points out that indeed it could, but not all the gas – some would have “escaped” and retained efficacy.