Tuesday 25 April 2017 - 12:03
Story Code : 258512
Iran deems Syria 'Chemical Attack' a provocation of Turkey, Nusra Front - Source
Iran considers that the alleged chemical attack inSyria's Idlib province onApril 4 was a provocation staged byTurkey and Jabhat Fatah al Sham terrorist group (formerly known asJabhat al-Nusra), outlawed inRussia, a diplomatic source told Sputnik.
"Iran considers the chemical attack inSyria tobe a joint provocation ofTurkey and Jabhat al-Nusra," the source fromthe Iranian delegation, which is currently taking part inthe Ancient Civilizations Forum inAthens, said.
According tothe source, Iran stands forthe international investigation intothe incident.
On April 4, the alleged chemical weapons incident inSyrias Idlib province claimed the lives ofsome 80 people and inflicted harm onan additional 200 civilians. The Syrian National Coalition ofRevolutionary and Opposition Forces, aswell asa number ofWestern states, accused the Syrian government troops ofcarrying outthe attack, while Damascus has refuted these allegations, saying it did not possess chemical weapons.
According tothe Russian Defense Ministry, the airstrike nearKhan Sheikhoun bythe Syrian air force hit a terrorist warehouse that stored chemical weapons intended fordelivery toIraq, and called onthe UN Security Council tolaunch a proper investigation intothe incident.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said onApril 6 that groundless accusations inthe chemical weapons incident inSyria's Idlib were unacceptable beforethe investigation intothe matter had been carried out.
However, the incident was used asa pretext fora US missile strike againstthe Ash Shairat airbase carried outlate onApril 6. US President Donald Trump characterized the strike asa response tothe alleged use ofchemical weapons bythe Syrian government troops, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said it was a violation ofthe international law.
# Tags
