Wednesday, August 29th., 2018
Russian MoD: White Helmets Preparing to Stage Chemical Attack in Idlib
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AFP 2018 / Omar haj kadour
MOSCOW
(Sputnik) - Representatives of the White Helmets group have delivered a
large shipment of toxic substances to a warehouse used by Ahrar al-Sham
militants in Idlib province, Maj. Gen. Alexei Tsygankov, head of the
Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation, said on Tuesday.
"According
to information received by the Russian Center for reconciliation
of warring parties in Syria from independent sources located in the
province of Idlib, a large shipment of toxic substances, accompanied
by eight representatives of the White Helmets, was delivered from the
village of Afs to the settlement of Saraqib, to a warehouse used by the
militants from the Ahrar al-Sham group to store weapons and fuel
supplies. They were met by two high-ranking commanders from the
above-mentioned illegal armed group," Tsygankov said at a daily
briefing.
"A part of this shipment in unmarked plastic barrels was later
transported to another militant base in the southern part of Idlib
province in order to stage a false-flag chemical attack and subsequently
accuse the government forces of the use of toxic agents
against civilians," Tsygankov stressed.READ MORE: US Redirects $230Mln for Syria Stabilization, to Continue Funding White
Helmets
Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday that the White Helmets group in Syria plans to film videos for Middle Eastern and English-language media outlets after staging a false-flag chemical weapons attack aimed at sharply destabilizing the situation in the war-torn country.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said earlier on Tuesday that Moscow has called on Germany and the United States to influence the armed opposition in Syria's Idlib province amid possible provocations with the use of chemical weapons in the area. Ryabkov stressed that the Nusra Front terrorist group, which now refers to itself as the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham group, was plotting a very serious provocation in the Idlib area with the use of chemical weapons. According to the deputy minister, the White Helmets group in Syria will film a video of the "chemical attack," and the provocation might be used as a pretext for massive strikes on Syria.
READ MORE: US, Israel Want White Helmets Out of Syria to Prevent Exposure – Ex-CIA Officer
According to the Russian military, chemical weapons provocation, currently being prepared by terrorists in Syria, is aimed at allowing France, the United Kingdom and the United States to carry out a strike on Syrian government’s targets.
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REUTERS / Israeli Army / Handout
Meanwhile, a senior Russian lawmaker told Sputnik on Tuesday that Moscow was concerned about Washington's military build-up in the Mediterranean near the Syrian coast.
"The United States is strengthening its naval
task force in the Mediterranean Sea not far from Syria. This is done
to prepare for the strike. So, it should be expect that in the event
of a provocation and a decision to deliver strikes against Syria, the
missiles will be launched both from the air, and from the sea," Alexei
Kondratyev, deputy chair of the Federation Council Committee on Defense
and Security, said.
READ MORE: State Department Says US Will Respond to Chemical Weapons Use in Idlib, SyriaAt the same time, Kondratyev expressed hope that Russia's warnings about the forthcoming provocation with the use of chemical weapons in Syria will "be able to cool the hotheads down and convince the coalition to avoid the strikes."