Russia warns against poissible chemical attacks in Syria

MOSCOW, March 17 (KUNA) -- Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff Col.-Gen. Sergei Rudskoy said the Syrian militant groups are planning for terrorist attacks with poisonous agents in the southern Daraa province.
"In the early March, the sabotage groups were deployed in the southern de-escalation zone near Daraa," he said at a joint press briefing with spokesman of the Russian Defense Ministry Maj.-Gen. Igor Konashenkov at the National Centre for State Defense Control on Saturday.
"Formations of so-called Free Syrian Army (FSA) are located there. They are preparing provocations using explosive devices fitted with poisonous agents," he revealed.
"In the future, this fact will be used in order to accuse the (Syrian) government troops of using chemical weapons," Col.-Gen. Rudskoy claimed.
"Components for these chemical munitions have already been transported to the southern de-escalation zone under cover of humanitarian convoys of a number of non-governmental organizations.
"Insurgents have not only components for poisonous agents but also detonating fuzes camouflaged as packs with cigarettes.
"Besides, the Jabhat Al-Nusra (Nusra Front) armed formations with support of so-called 'White Helmets' are preparing staged chemical attack near the settlements of Al-Habid and Qalb Luza, located some 25 km. northwest Idlib. Therefore, 20 containers with chloride have been delivered there.
"It is planned that the event shall be widely broadcasted in the western mass media.
"Such provocations will give the USA and its coalition grounds for an attack against military and government facilities in Syria," he said noting that there "is clear evidence of preparations for the possible strikes.
"There are groups of missile carriers deployed in eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, Persian Gulf and Red Sea," Col.-Gen. Rudskoy said, adding that the Russian General Staff continues monitoring situation in Syria.
On his part, Maj.-Gen. Igor Konashenkov stressed that over the recent months there has been a lot of criticism towards the Russian Federation, and especially the Russian Ministry of Defense, concerning disastrous situation in the Eastern Ghouta and necessity of urgent humanitarian aid.
He reminded that it was always a matter of urgent delivering humanitarian convoys with food and medical supplies, the bare necessities to the residents of the Eastern Ghouta, as well as the evacuation of children, patients and wounded.
"But all this did not work out because of terrorists' interference who used the population of the Eastern Ghouta as a human shield and did not allow even patients to leave this area," said the military spokesman.
He added that Russia has received hundreds of documented reports made by the released residents, who passionately told to journalists, including Western ones, about the outrages committed by militants. (end) as.gb