IS Suspected Of Chemical Attack On Kurds In Iraq

United States and French chemical weapons specialists arrived in the area yesterday to take samples and determine whether chemical weapons had indeed been used.

With new capabilities, ISIS may increase the ferocity and frequency of its attacks on U.S. allies in the region, prompting fresh concerns about the ability of Syrian and Kurdish forces to ward off incursions.

Similar reports of chemical weapons use by Isis had surfaced last month.

A ministry statement said that about 60 Kurdish fighters had suffered breathing problems as a result of the attack.

The U.S.is investigating reports that Islamic State militants used chemical weapons in a battle with Kurdish fighters, a White House spokesman said.

There were no deaths but troops exposed to it had experienced burning of the throat, eyes and nose, severe headaches, muscle pain, impaired concentration and mobility, and vomiting.

Although declining to say what chemical agent was used, US officials claimed it was mustard agent.

“ISIS is a group that has demonstrated time and again its willingness to stop at nothing”, the official said.

The Assad regime also admitted to having other, deadlier chemical weapons, including sarin and VX. Earlier, Barzani had said a team of US and French experts had collected samples to explain what could have caused the burns and respiratory issues.

IS has previously been accused of using chlorine gas against Kurdish fighters.

Numerous villages neighboring Makhmour, some only 5km away, have been under ISIS control since August last year when the group swept through much of western Iraq.

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein also used weapons such as mustard agent against the Kurds and against Iran.

What some question now is whether ISIS’ chemical weapons seized from Iraq are even usable. The other WMD bunker included “2,000 empty 155mm artillery shells contaminated with the chemical warfare agent mustard, 605 one-tonne mustard containers with residues, and heavily contaminated construction material”.

Since late 2014, there have been multiple reports from Kurdish officials, as well as from Iraqi and Syrian authorities and medical staff, that the IS has been using bombs filled with chemical agents. She is an NPR contributor and has contributed to USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, National Review Online, Politico and more, and has myriad television and radio credits as a commentator.