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Kurdish forces fighting Isis report being attacked with chemical weapons Kurdish forces fighting Isis report being attacked with chemical weapons
(about 1 hour later)
Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State in northern Iraq have reported being attacked with chemical weapons, according to the German defence ministry.Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State in northern Iraq have reported being attacked with chemical weapons, according to the German defence ministry.
“We have indications that there was an attack with chemical weapons” against the peshmerga fighters that left many suffering from respiratory irritation, a ministry spokesman told AFP. “We have indications that there was an attack with chemical weapons,” a ministry spokesman said, saying many peshmerga fighters had reportedly been left suffering from respiratory irritation.
A senior official from the peshmerga said the attack happened two days ago and wounded several dozen fighters.A senior official from the peshmerga said the attack happened two days ago and wounded several dozen fighters.
“Last Tuesday afternoon, peshmerga forces in the Makhmur area 30 miles (50km) west of the city of Irbil were attacked with Katyusha rockets filled with chlorine,” the official said on condition of anonymity.“Last Tuesday afternoon, peshmerga forces in the Makhmur area 30 miles (50km) west of the city of Irbil were attacked with Katyusha rockets filled with chlorine,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
A ministry spokesman said German forces were not present during the attack, but that “we have indications that there was an attack with chemical weapons”. A ministry spokesman said German forces were not present during the attack.
Germany has been supporting the Kurdish peshmerga fighters since September to back their push against Isis, and currently has about 90 personnel on the ground. Germany has been supporting the Kurdish peshmerga fighters since September as they push against Isis, and currently has about 90 personnel on the ground.
Isis has previously been accused of using chlorine against Kurdish forces in Iraq.Isis has previously been accused of using chlorine against Kurdish forces in Iraq.
In March, the autonomous Kurdish government in northern Iraq said it had evidence that the jihadist group used chlorine in a car bomb attack on 23 January. In March, the autonomous Kurdish government in northern Iraq said it had evidence that the jihadi group used chlorine in a car bomb attack on 23 January.
Last month, the Conflict Armament Research group and Sahan Research group said Isis had also targeted peshmerga with a projectile filled with an unknown chemical agent on 21 or 22 June.Last month, the Conflict Armament Research group and Sahan Research group said Isis had also targeted peshmerga with a projectile filled with an unknown chemical agent on 21 or 22 June.
The chemical used had characteristics and clinical effects “consistent with a chlorine chemical agent,” the groups said. The chemical used had characteristics and clinical effects “consistent with a chlorine chemical agent”, the groups said.
The organisations said they had also documented two such attacks against Kurdish fighters from the People’s Protection Units in Syria’s north-eastern Hasakeh province on 28 June.The organisations said they had also documented two such attacks against Kurdish fighters from the People’s Protection Units in Syria’s north-eastern Hasakeh province on 28 June.
It said that upon impact, the projectiles had released a yellow gas “with a strong smell of rotten onions”.It said that upon impact, the projectiles had released a yellow gas “with a strong smell of rotten onions”.
There were no deaths but troops exposed to it had experienced burning of the throat, eyes and nose, severe headaches, muscle pain, impaired concentration and mobility, and vomiting.There were no deaths but troops exposed to it had experienced burning of the throat, eyes and nose, severe headaches, muscle pain, impaired concentration and mobility, and vomiting.