News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Syrian president Bashar Assad is still believed to possess up to three tons of chemical weapons, senior Israeli defence officials said.

Israel, along with many countries, blames the strike on Assad's military.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said French intelligence services would provide proof of that in the coming days.

A senior Israeli military officer, in a briefing to Israeli reporters, said "a few tonnes of chemical weapons" remained in the hands of Assad's forces, a military spokesman told Reuters.

Some local media reports quoted the briefing officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with Israeli military procedure, as putting the amount at up to 3 tonnes.

(Image: REUTERS)

The claim comes as a global chemical weapons watchdog said Sarin or a similar banned toxin was used in an attack in Syria's Idlib province on April 4 that killed nearly 90 people.

The finding supported earlier testing by Turkish and British laboratories.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' Director General Ahmet Uzumcu said results of the analysis "indicate that sarin or a sarin like substance was used".

(Image: REUTERS)

The finding was based on tests on bio-medical samples collected from three victims during their autopsies that were analysed at two OPCW-designated laboratories, the OPCW said.

"Bio-medical samples from seven individuals undergoing treatment at hospitals ... (also) indicate exposure to sarin or a sarin like substance," the statement said.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: REUTERS)

We'll have more on Israel's chemical weapons claims as soon as we get it.