Why would Assad have used chemical weapons again?
Simply because they work.
That is what shook loose the large group of jihadis in Eastern Ghouta just like a month ago, that were re-located to Afrin: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/08/syrian-government-accused-of-chemical-attacks-on-civilians-in-eastern-ghouta
Yes, I agree. He was desperate to end them. He had used them before. When we bombed the bases the intelligence was correct, they were chem weapons sites.
I think Assad signed off on Afrin, himself. Whether Putin wanted it or not? I’m not sure.
Humpty Dumpty has fallen, they may be able to put him back together but he will never be the same.
Now lets see what happens on the 24th in Turkey.