Chemical weapons in Syria

I am having a lot of trouble understanding why the Assad regime would use chemical weapons in its civil war. They are risking foreign intervention that almost certainly spells their end. What do do they gain that they could not accomplish by using conventional weapons instead?



I am not accusing the rebels of being the perpetrators, but they, on the other hand, have much to gain by using chemical weapons and blaming it on the regime, ie. the same likelihood of international intervention.



Any thoughts?



IXP

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