Syrian media report that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad allegedly ordered the use of chemical weapons on anti-government rebels.

A former Syrian general said in a media interview that the Syrian government ordered the use of chemical weapons against the rebels. The general was in charge of a chemical weapons unit and defected from the Syrian military.

He said he was told to use chemical weapons against rebels in a southwestern area of Hauran but disobeyed the order and replaced the chemical agents with a harmless substance.

The Syrian government has consistently denied the U.S.’ allegations that it used chemical weapons on anti-government fighters.