In the cases of previous alleged gas attacks in Syria, western governments have been quick to blame Assad, only for OPCW inspectors to report there was no evidence of a gas attack. And in the most recent, (and probably most desperate yet) attempt to justify US /NATO direct action in Syria a reported gas attack by Assad on areas loyal to him, British reporter Robert Fisk visited the site of the alleged attack, which supposedly took place in Douma earlier this year, and after speaking to eye witnesses to the events of that night reported there had been shelling and bombs but no gas attack had taken place that night.