Syria:

Two Chemical Arms Depots of Terrorists Discovered, Destroyed by Russian Forces

Rasa - The Russian forces have discovered and dismantled two chemical weapons facilities in regions previously controlled by the terrorists in Syria, Head of the Russian military's branch for protection from chemical weapons Major General Igor Kirillov said.

News ID: 431958

Date: 26 August 2017 - 20:15

RNA - Igor Kirillov said on Friday that Moscow will provide the data to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), without elaborating on the exact location of the facilities that were destroyed this month.

The two bases were the last out of the 27 chemical weapons sites in Syria, Russian media reported.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in July that Russia believed terrorists in Syria plan to stage chemical attacks in order to justify US airstrikes against the Syrian military.

"According to information available (to us), Syrian terrorist groups plan staged provocative actions with the use of chemical poison gases to justify US strikes against the positions of the Syrian government forces," Zakharova said.

ISIL deployed chemical laboratories and special equipment for carrying chemical bombs to Deir Ezzur from Raqqa in Syria, Zakharova revealed.

"Daesh is transferring workshops and equipment for the production of ammunition, including those equipped with chemical agents, from the city of Raqqa to the controlled areas of Deir Ezzur province," Zakharova said.

Citing the US-led coalition's statements claiming the nearly full encirclement of Raqqa, she noted that "the movement of such large-scale equipment from under the nose of the coalition forces can indicate at least a selective unwillingness to see the facts."

"I think you can speak with a high degree of probability about complicity with insurgents," Zakharova asserted.

The spokeswoman reiterated that Russia would seek thorough probe of the April 4 incident in Khan Sheikhoun in addition to other 'chemical' provocations against the Syrian authorities.

"We will continue to consistently seek the most professionally rigorous and politically impartial investigation into the investigation of both the Khan Sheikhoun chemical incident and other persistent chemical provocations against the legitimate Syrian government," Zakharova said.

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