Arrest warrant issued for Syrian leader's alleged use of banned chemical weapons: 'Butcher of Damascus'

France issued the arrest warrant following investigations into two alleged uses of banned chemical weapons in Syria, arguing that it has "universal" jurisdiction regarding chemical attacks.

"The president is responsible for many crimes in Syria – but with this type of weapon in particular – sarin gas – it’s impossible to jump over the gap (of his involvement)," said Mazen Darwish, lawyer and founder of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), one of the groups that filed the suit.  Peter Aitken is a Fox News Digital reporter with a focus on national and global news. 

Darwish called the warrant a "new victory for the victims, their families and survivors" of the attacks.