Russia to Give OPCW Samples Confirming Terrorists Used Chemical Weapons in Syria

The Russian Defense Ministry will reveal soil and shell fragments samples confirming that terrorists used chemical weapons in Aleppo to the OPCW, spokesperson of the Russian Defense Ministry Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

“All the results of the analysis of soil samples and fragments of artillery and ammunition confirm that terrorists used chemical weapons in Aleppo; it will be passed in the prescribed manner to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). We propose to the leadership of the OPCW to consider the question of deploying of the OPCW experts to the Aleppo 1070 quarter for the fact-finding mission,” he said, Sputnik reported.

 He also underscored that the Russian reconciliation center in Syria would ensure joint work of OPCW and Russian experts to explore areas where terrorists used chemical weapons.

Earlier in the day, spokesperson of the Russian Defense Ministry Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov stated that Russian military experts have found that militants in the Syrian city of Aleppo have used chemical weapons, likely chlorine and white phosphorus.

“While conducting reconnaissance in the ‘1070’ area [south-western suburbs of Aleppo], the officers of the scientific center of the Russian Troops of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence (RChBD) have found evidence of chemical weapon use by terrorists against the civilian population and Syrian servicemen,” Konashenkov said on Friday.

He added that the Russian military specialists found unexploded ammunition with chemical agents and took soil samples in areas where terrorists used their weapons.

“After conducting an express analysis in a mobile laboratory it was determined that the toxic substances that filled the militants’ artillery ammunition were with high probability chlorine and white phosphorus,” Konashenkov said.

The Defense Ministry spokesman specified that a detailed analysis of the samples will be made at the laboratory of the scientific center of the Russian Troops of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence (RChBD). The laboratory is accredited by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

 H.M