Screen capture of lifeless bodies in the village of Kfar-Batna. Local activists claim these people were killed by chemical weapons.

Early on Wednesday, several rebel-held villages in the eastern suburbs of Damascus were heavily bombarded by the Syrian army. Activists from this village have accused the Syrian regime of using chemical weapons during this operation. Two Syrian activists from the area weigh in on these claims.

The number of deaths in Wednesday’s attack remains unconfirmed. According to various opposition figures and activists, the toll varies between about 130 and 1,300. However, no independent source has been able to verify these figures.

The Syrian opposition believes that this alleged high number of casualties could be explained by the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian army. During a press conference in Istanbul, the opposition Syrian National Coalition said that the international community’s inaction was tantamount to complicity. (On Wednesday, French foreign minister urged a reaction “with force” if the massacre is confirmed).

The Syrian rebels are sharing numerous videos that they claim proves the use of chemical weapons on Wednesday. Some show people covering up their faces. Other videos show people foaming at the mouth, and yet others show dozens of apparently lifeless bodies, many of them young children, with no visible wounds.

The Syrian army has vehemently denied using chemical attacks in Wednesday’s attack, calling the opposition’s claims “baseless.”

The series of bombings during which the opposition allege chemical weapons were used began just 48 hours after a team of 10 United Nations observers arrived in Damascus . After several months of negotiations between the Syrian government and the United Nations, these observers were allowed into the country to inspect whether or not chemical weapons were being used in the Syrian conflict.

In the past months, the United Kingdom, France and the United States have all accused the Syrian regime of using this type of weapon against rebels. Meanwhile, Russia, which is an ally of Syria, claims that the rebels used sarin gas back in March during fighting near the city of Aleppo.