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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| IS suspected of chemical arms attack on Kurds in Iraq | IS suspected of chemical arms attack on Kurds in Iraq |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Militants from Islamic State (IS) are suspected of using chemical weapons in an attack against Kurdish forces in northern Iraq, officials say. | Militants from Islamic State (IS) are suspected of using chemical weapons in an attack against Kurdish forces in northern Iraq, officials say. |
| German officials said Kurdish troops suffered breathing difficulties after an attack near the city of Irbil earlier this month. | German officials said Kurdish troops suffered breathing difficulties after an attack near the city of Irbil earlier this month. |
| They did not say what may have been used. US officials told local media they believed it was mustard agent. | They did not say what may have been used. US officials told local media they believed it was mustard agent. |
| IS has previously been accused of using chlorine gas against Kurdish fighters. | IS has previously been accused of using chlorine gas against Kurdish fighters. |
| US officials quoted in the Wall Street Journal said IS could have obtained the mustard agent in neighbouring Syria. | US officials quoted in the Wall Street Journal said IS could have obtained the mustard agent in neighbouring Syria. |
| The Syrian government has previously said that all its stockpiles of such weapons have been destroyed. | The Syrian government has previously said that all its stockpiles of such weapons have been destroyed. |
| Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein also used weapons such as mustard agent against the Kurds and against Iran. | Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein also used weapons such as mustard agent against the Kurds and against Iran. |
| A US defence official told the BBC that it was aware of the reports and was looking into them, adding: "It is plausible." | A US defence official told the BBC that it was aware of the reports and was looking into them, adding: "It is plausible." |
| Inquiry launched | Inquiry launched |
| Mustard agent, or sulphur mustard - more commonly referred to as mustard gas - causes blistering of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. | Mustard agent, or sulphur mustard - more commonly referred to as mustard gas - causes blistering of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. |
| The German defence ministry, which is helping to train Kurdish forces, said that US and Iraqi experts were on their way to the area "to find out what happened". | The German defence ministry, which is helping to train Kurdish forces, said that US and Iraqi experts were on their way to the area "to find out what happened". |
| A ministry statement said that about 60 Kurdish fighters had suffered breathing problems as a result of the attack. | A ministry statement said that about 60 Kurdish fighters had suffered breathing problems as a result of the attack. |
| "We have indications that there was an attack with chemical weapons," a ministry spokesman told AFP news agency. | "We have indications that there was an attack with chemical weapons," a ministry spokesman told AFP news agency. |
| Kurdish security officials said the IS attack happened near the town of Makhmour, south-west of Irbil. | Kurdish security officials said the IS attack happened near the town of Makhmour, south-west of Irbil. |
| Earlier this year, the autonomous Kurdish government in northern Iraq said it had evidence that IS had used chlorine in a car bomb attack. | Earlier this year, the autonomous Kurdish government in northern Iraq said it had evidence that IS had used chlorine in a car bomb attack. |
| Are you in Northern Iraq? Have you been affected by the violence? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | |
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