Militants in Idlib planning ‘false flag’ chemical attack: Russian MoD

Chemical attack to be used as a pretext for US, UK and French airstrikes on Syrian targets, Russian MOD claims

DAMASCUS: The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has claimed that militants present in Idlib governate of Syria are planning to stage a "false flag" chemical attack and will blame the Syrian government for the strike, reported RT.

MoD further claimed that the chemical weapons attack will be used as a pretext to strike Syrian targets by the US-led coalition operating in the region.

“The attack would be used as a pretext for US, UK and French airstrikes on Syrian targets," Russian defense ministry spokesperson Major General Igor Konashenkoc said adding that an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile cruiser has already been deployed to the Persian Gulf for this purpose.

A US Rockwell B-1 Lancer, a supersonic bomber equipped with 24 cruise missiles has also been deployed at Qatar's Al Udeid Airbase.



While militants are currently preparing provocations from the Al-Nusrah Front in Idlib province, in northwestern Syria, the Russian MoD went on to add, claiming that in order to pull off the chemical attack, some eight canisters of chlorine have already been delivered to a village near Jisr al-Shughur city.

While a separate group of militants prepared by a private British security company have also arrived in the area, it further claimed.



The group will be disguised as volunteers from the White Helmets and will stage a rescue operation involving locals purportedly injured in the attack, a ministry official told the Russian publication.

According to the ministry spokesperson, recent statements by US National Security Advisor John Bolton threatening to bomb Syria could be interpreted as confirmation of such impending airstrikes.

This story originally appeared in RT