It has been reported through the Syrian Arab News Agency today that Syrian rebels have attacked Aleppo with a chemical weapon fired from a rocket, killing at least 15 people and injuring another 86.

Syrian rebels quickly denied using chemical weapons in what analysts the world over are calling a serious escalation in the conflict plaguing that country. Rebels say, instead, that the weapon was fired by government forces. The incident occurred east of Aleppo in the village of Khan al Assal.

Syria’s Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi said that a missile carrying poison gases was fired from the Nairab district in Aleppo and impacted the nearby village. On pro government TV, al-Zoubi said that his government held the international community responsible for arming the rebels in the country against the Syrian government.

An activist in the Aleppo area, who used an alias, blamed the deaths, many by suffocation induced by poison, on the Syrian government. He asked, “Why would the Free Syrian Army bomb themselves with a chemical weapon?” The area targetted by the surface-to-surface missile was recently seized by anti-Assad rebels.

“We were hearing reports from early this morning about a regime attack on Khan al-Assal, and we believe they fired a Scud with chemical agents. Then suddenly we learned that the regime was turning these reports against us,” said Qassim Saadeddine, a senior rebel and spokesman for the Higher Military Council in Aleppo. “The rebels were not behind this attack.”

A Reuters photographer said that witnesses to the attack smelled the strong odor of chlorine immediately after the attack. Many in the area reported breathing problems afflicting those close to the impact , as many as 40 of those died from breathing complications.

If this attack is confirmed to be one using chemicals, it will be the first of its kind to have occurred in this conflict.