U.S. investigating if ISIS used chemical arms
Peshmerga fighters told AFP Thursday that they had been the target of a chemical attack on Tuesday
The United States is investigating whether the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) used chemical weapons, the White House said Thursday, following allegations that the Islamist militants deployed chemical weapons against Kurdish forces in northern Iraq.
Alistair Baskey, a spokesman for the White House’s National Security Council, said the U.S. is taking the allegations “very seriously” and seeking more information about what happened. He noted that ISIS had been accused of using such weapons before.
“We continue to monitor these reports closely, and would further stress that any use of chemicals or biological material as a weapon is completely inconsistent with international standards and norms regarding such capabilities,” Baskey said in a statement.
A U.S. official deemed it “plausible” Thursday that ISIS used mustard gas against Iraqi Kurd fighters this week.
“Based on previous information, we found these reports plausible,” the official told AFP, referring to a Wall Street Journal story citing U.S. and German sources that said the extremist group had used the banned chemical weapon.
On Thursday, a German foreign ministry spokesman told Al Arabiya News that Berlin “could not confirm” that Kurdish were attacked with chemical weapons a few days ago.
But the ministry did not rule out that a chemical attack could have taken place.
Peshmerga fighters told AFP Thursday that they had been the target of a chemical attack on Tuesday. They suggested rockets filled with chlorine gas were to blame and did not mention mustard gas.
The German Defense Ministry has said that Iraqi and U.S. specialists are on their way to the scene of the attack to investigate.
Mustard gas is an asphyxiant that has been banned in war by the U.N. since 1993.
(With AP and AFP)
Also Read
-
Germany ‘cannot confirm’ that Kurds hit by chemical arms
However, the ministry did not rule out that a chemical attack could have taken place Middle East -
U.N. seeks accountability on Syria gas attacks
Security Council unanimously passes resolution to establish a fact-finding body to identify those involved in chemical attacks Middle East -
U.S., Russia agree to act on Syria chemical attacks
Kerry says an agreement on a U.N. resolution has been reached with Russia. It will hold those found guilty accountable Middle East -
Kurds claim ISIS used chemical weapons in Syria
A Syrian Kurdish militia says poison gas had been used in June attacks against YPG-held areas Middle East -
U.S. seeks U.N. action on chemical attacks in Syria
The investigative mechanism would be a joint program between the OPCW and the U.N. Middle East -
UK did not stop Saddam regime making chemical weapons, documents show
At the time, Iraq was closer to the West than Iran Middle East -
Saudi’s SABIC unit, South Korea’s SK form polyethylene project
SABIC had completed the formation of a joint venture with Korean petrochemical manufacturer SK Global Chemical Co Technology -
Saudi's Sadara signs 3.77 bln dollar power deal
Sadara Chemical Company is a $20 billion joint venture between state-oil giant Saudi Aramco and Dow Chemical Company Energy
