Russia expresses ‘extreme concern’ at reports ISIS using mustard gas
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Wednesday that the Kremlin is concerned about Islamic States' (ISIS) reported use of mustard gas against Syrian soldiers in Deir Ezzor.
"Reports of the shelling of a military airfield in Deir Ezzor with missiles stuffed with mustard gas by Islamic State gunmen cause extreme concern. We are convinced that such action by terrorists must strongly be condemned," she said, according to Russia's TASS news.
Zakharova said she believes that ISIS is trying to use these weapons to reverse its recent battlefield losses. This is true particularly after their loss of Palmyra where Russia gave air support to the Syrian military late last month enabling them to force ISIS back from that ancient city.
"Units of the Syrian army, supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces, continue their uncompromising struggle against ISIS terrorists and Jabhat al-Nusra.
To build up from the obvious success connected with the liberation of Palmyra on March 27 where Russian sappers began mine clearance," Zakharova explained, "more than 1,500 explosive objects have been destroyed.”
She said, “These victories pave the way for the Syrian military to launch further offensive(s) in the direction of the ISIS 'capital city' in Syria - the city of Raqqa - and Deir Ezzor governorate."
Consequently, she reasoned, it is "against this backdrop, (that the) terrorist(s) are trying to reverse the situation at any costs."
Syrian soldiers at the airport in Deir Ezzor reportedly suffered breathing problems as a result of their exposure to the gas, Syria's state news agency Sana reported on Monday night.
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via Defense News