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| Syrian Islamist group Jaysh al-Islam admits using banned weapons against Kurds in Aleppo | Syrian Islamist group Jaysh al-Islam admits using banned weapons against Kurds in Aleppo |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Jaysh al-Islam militant group fighting government forces in Syria has admitted to using “forbidden” weapons against Kurdish militia in Aleppo. The group’s statement comes after reports of chemical gas being used in shelling Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsood district. | The Jaysh al-Islam militant group fighting government forces in Syria has admitted to using “forbidden” weapons against Kurdish militia in Aleppo. The group’s statement comes after reports of chemical gas being used in shelling Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsood district. |
| The hardline Islamist group did not not specify what substances were used, but claimed that it will punish those responsible. | The hardline Islamist group did not not specify what substances were used, but claimed that it will punish those responsible. |
| The group’s statement reads: “During the clashes one of the Jaysh al-Islam brigade leaders used [weapons] forbidden in this kind of confrontations.” | The group’s statement reads: “During the clashes one of the Jaysh al-Islam brigade leaders used [weapons] forbidden in this kind of confrontations.” |
| The group claims that the brigade commander in question was summoned to a military court, where it was decided he is to be held accountable. “This situation is contrary to the charter of Jaysh al-Islam,” says the group. | The group claims that the brigade commander in question was summoned to a military court, where it was decided he is to be held accountable. “This situation is contrary to the charter of Jaysh al-Islam,” says the group. |
| Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood was shelled with mortars containing chemical agents earlier on Thursday. Local journalist Nawrouz Uthman told RT the attack took place around noon local time, reportedly killing 23 people and injured over 100. | Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood was shelled with mortars containing chemical agents earlier on Thursday. Local journalist Nawrouz Uthman told RT the attack took place around noon local time, reportedly killing 23 people and injured over 100. |
| READ MORE: Aleppo district shelled with chemical gas – local journalist to RT | READ MORE: Aleppo district shelled with chemical gas – local journalist to RT |
| The Kurdish Red Crescent confirmed reports that chemicals had been used in the attack. “The victims brought to the hospital are suffering from spasms and convulsions because of poisoning by gases banned all over the world, such as chlorine,” a Red Crescent doctor told Sputnik. | The Kurdish Red Crescent confirmed reports that chemicals had been used in the attack. “The victims brought to the hospital are suffering from spasms and convulsions because of poisoning by gases banned all over the world, such as chlorine,” a Red Crescent doctor told Sputnik. |
| YPG also confirmed that toxic agents had been used by the Islamists, according to RIA Novosti. | YPG also confirmed that toxic agents had been used by the Islamists, according to RIA Novosti. |
| “We confirm the information concerning usage by Islamists, acting under patronage of Turkey, of the poisonous agent in the Maqsood neighborhood of Aleppo. Its poisonous effect have experienced dozens of civilians,” the head of the YPG central headquarters was cited as saying. | “We confirm the information concerning usage by Islamists, acting under patronage of Turkey, of the poisonous agent in the Maqsood neighborhood of Aleppo. Its poisonous effect have experienced dozens of civilians,” the head of the YPG central headquarters was cited as saying. |
| YPG intends to report the incident to the Jordan-based US coordination center and the Russian Center for reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria, which oversee the cessation of hostilities. | YPG intends to report the incident to the Jordan-based US coordination center and the Russian Center for reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria, which oversee the cessation of hostilities. |
| “We will report this fact to the ceasefire centers, to the Russian center in Latakia and to the American one in Jordan,” YPG said in a statement. | “We will report this fact to the ceasefire centers, to the Russian center in Latakia and to the American one in Jordan,” YPG said in a statement. |
| The hardline Islamist group Jaysh al-Islam is formally a member of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) that is representing the Syrian opposition at the Geneva talks. | |
| Both Russia and Syria have repeatedly demanded the exclusion of Mohammad Alloush, previously known as Jaysh al-Islam’s political leader, from the negotiations process. | |
| Alloush was picked as the chief negotiator for the Syrian opposition in Geneva, which has drawn ire from Damascus and criticism from Moscow. | |
| Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov told a press conference in January that Russia would not change its view of the “terrorist essence of Jaysh al-Islam,” which is “known to have shelled residential districts in Damascus, including the Russian Embassy.” | |
| In March, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov reiterated Russia’s stance that Jaysh al-Islam is a terrorist organization. | |
| “From the very beginning, Russia opposed inclusion of the representatives [of Jaysh al-Islam] in the opposition delegation… They take part in the delegation only in a purely personal capacity… We will only welcome their exclusion from participation in the negotiations,” he told RIA Novosti. |