Iraq raises alarm over use of biological weapons

Iraqi pro-government forces gather in al-Shahabi village in east of the city of Fallujah on May 24, 2016 as part of a major assault to retake the city from the Islamic State militant group. PHOTO | AHMAD AL-RUBAYE | AFP

What you need to know:

  • In a rare press release, the Iraqi Embassy in Nairobi warned that terror groups such as Isis posed a danger to the entire world if they possessed such chemicals.

The Iraqi government is calling for more international cooperation to prevent terrorist organisations from acquiring and using chemical and biological weapons.

In a rare press release, the Iraqi Embassy in Nairobi warned that terror groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) posed a danger to the entire world if they possessed such chemicals.

“It is important that all countries work together to fight terrorist groups especially Isis who are committing grave and terrible crimes against the innocent people of Iraq,” Mohammed Husham Al-Fityan, the spokesman of the Iraqi Embassy said in a statement. “They will not think twice to use them against innocent civilians as it happened in Taza.”

The statement follows an attack by the Isis militants in Iraq’s Taza town in March where the terrorists reportedly fired 40 rockets with chemical warheads, killing a child and wounding about 800 residents.

The Iraqi government said the injured had signs of contact with mustard gas, a banned deadly chemical weapon.

Isis is predominantly a Middle East terror group.

But the group has expanded its tentacles beyond the region recently launching attacks in Europe and influencing other terrorists like Boko Horam in West Africa to pledge allegiance to Isis. Some leaders of the terror group al-Shabaab in East Africa have also indicated intention to work with Isis.

The Iraqi government feels these mergers mean world governments cannot work in isolation since one weapon acquired by one group could be shared out.

“There exists the possibility of deploying such weapons to other terrorist groups in other regions within the globe,” said the diplomat.