Zakharova: Jabhat al-Nusra Terrorists, White Helmets Planning New Chemical Provocations in Syria’s Idlib

MOSCOW- Russia has once again warned that al-Qaeda-inspired terrorists and the Western-backed White Helmets group, which claim its being an aid group, are gearing up for a false flag chemical attack in Syria’s Idlib Province, the last major militant stronghold in Syria.

Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said Thursday that terrorists with the Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, better known as al-Nusra Front, “along with the White Helmets, are preparing for further provocations aimed at accusing the legitimate government in Syria of using poisonous substances,” according to Press TV.

 Moscow has, on numerous occasions, warned of a false flag chemical attack in Idlib, which would give the US and its allies a pretext to launch a military attack against Syrian government positions.

Russia views the so-called White Helmets as a branch of Jabhat al-Nusra operating under the guise of an aid group.

The Russia-based Study of Democracy Foundation Maxim Grigoriev submitted a report to the UN last December, offering evidence of the White Helmets being engaged in organ trafficking, terrorist logistics support and looting in Syria.

Over the past years, Western governments and their allies have repeatedly pointed the finger at Damascus whenever an alleged chemical attack takes place in the country.

In April 2018, the United States, Britain and France carried out a string of missile airstrikes against Syria over an alleged chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma.

Syria handed over its stockpiles of chemical weapons in 2013 and has constantly rejected such claims, which have usually surfaced when foreign-backed militants are about to take stinging blows on the battleground against government forces.

H.M