Syria Kurds say in near complete control of Hasaka city

Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) is reportedly using chemical agents in bombs and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) against Kurdish forces and civilians in Syria and Iraq.

Adding to the statement the organisations also acknowledged two attacks against Kurdish fighters from the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria’s north eastern Hasakeh province on June 28.

The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia said Islamic State had fired “makeshift chemical projectiles” on June 28 at a YPG-controlled area of the city of Hasaka, and at YPG positions south of the town of Tel Brak to the northeast of Hasaka city.

The first attack saw projectiles emit “a powerful chemical odour” which “smelt like rotten onions”, hospitalising 12 Kurdish soldiers after inducing “breathing difficulties, sinus problems and streaming eyes… followed by below the waist and temporary paralysis”, he says.

However, no fighters were killed due to the attack as they were transported quickly to a nearby hospital.

Nine days later, researchers examined remains of exploded munitions at Tal Brak, another Syrian YPG position, and were covered in chemical residue which had a powerful odour and caused throat and eye irritations.

The YPG reported no deaths in the attacks and said that exposed forces subsequently recovered from their symptoms.

The people affected in the attack were taken through urine tests and all of them tested positive.

But they had no definitive answer yet on the precise chemical composition of the agents that had been used in the two attacks in Syria.

In another worrisome development, the radical jihadi group was said to have come in possession of industrial grade gas masks, which suggest they are preparing and becoming better equipped to carry out more chemical warfare. Vehicle received access to inspect the weapon by the Kurdish Regional Government, who are also testing the suspected chemical mortar.

Syria denied responsibility but subsequently surrendered its arsenal of chemical weapons under a UN-backed agreement.

Syria was not required to surrender any stocks of chlorine under the 2013 agreement because it is widely used for commercial and domestic purposes.