Russian Envoy: “White Helmets” Preparing New Chemical Provocations in Syria

UNITED NATIONS – The so-called “White Helmets” group is preparing new provocations to accuse the Syrian government of utilizing toxic agents against civilians in Syria’s province of Idlib, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vladimir Safronkov said during a UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.

According to Sputnik, Safronkov noted that the White Helmets are going to accuse the Syrian government of using poisonous substances.

“The pseudo-humanitarian personnel of the White Helmets continues to prepare ever new provocations in order to accuse the lawful authorities of using toxic agents,” Safronkov said. “We see what is going on.”   

Safronkov noted that the remaining members of the “Jabhat Fatah al Sham” terror group — formerly known as the Nusra Front and banned in Russia — continue to attack government positions and strike civilian infrastructure indiscriminately.   

 Such a status quo in Idlib is dangerous for the security of Syria, Safronkov added.   

Earlier in the day Maj. Gen. Viktor Kupchishin, head of the Russian Centre for Syrian Reconciliation, argued that foreign media employees conducted a staged filming of the “death” of a family due to alleged use of chemical weapons by Syrian troops.

According to Kupchishin, the fighters from the illegal militant groups continue to destabilize the situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone.

“According to information received by the Reconciliation centre, a group of foreign media resources’ correspondents conducted a staged filming of the death of a Syrian family from chemical weapons allegedly used by the Syrian government troops in the area of Morek in the Hama province,” Kupchishin said.   

He also noted that the Russian Centre for Syrian Reconciliation urges leaders of the illegal militant groups to stop provocations and join the efforts in dealing with the situation by peaceful means in territories where they are operating.

Moscow and Damascus have on a several occasions pointed out that the White Helmets have staged a number of provocations in Syria involving the use of chemical weapons in order to blame them on the Syrian government and provide Western countries with justification for intervention in the Arab Republic.

H.M