Pentagon: Daesh Determined to Launch Chemical Attack

Local Editor

Pentagon Spokesman warned that Daesh may step up efforts to use chemical weapons as Iraqi troops move towards Mosul.

Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the Takfiri terrorist ISIS/ISIL group] is "dead set" on using chemical weapons, Reuters quoted the Pentagon as saying on Monday, not long after a shell that may have contained a mustard agent was fired on a joint US-Iraqi military base.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Captain said Daesh will likely step up efforts to use chemical agents as the Iraqi military prepares for an offensive aimed at recapturing Mosul over two years after the fall of one of the country's largest cities.

"We fully recognize this is something that Daesh has done before," Davis said. "They've done it many times, at least a couple dozen that we know of where they have launched crude makeshift munitions that are filled with this mustard agent."

A projectile that landed near Qayyara West base last week tested positive for a mustard agent, although two other tests have not been conclusive, according to the report.

The group's ability to weaponize mustard agent is thought to be limited, but it appears to be determined to use chemical weapons.

"It's not generally in a lethal concentration," Davis said. "It's more of an irritant than anything else, but again, not something we view as militarily significant."

Nevertheless, he said, Iraqi and American troops must be ready to deal with a chemical attack.

"We recognize this is real," Reuters quoted him as saying. "They're dead set on it. They would love to be able to use chemical weapons against us, against the Iraqis as they move forward. We are making every effort to make sure that we're ready for it."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team