Use_of_chemical_weapons_in_the_War_in_Iraq_(2013–2017)
Use of chemical weapons in the War in Iraq (2013–2017) by ISIL has been confirmed by the OPCW[1] and US defense officials.[2]
Reported attacks
The table below lists reported chemical weapons attacks in the Iraqi Civil War.[N 1]
More information Date, Location ...
Date | Location | Governorate | Impact points | Civilian victims | Soldier/militias victims | CW-agent | Notes | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Time of day | Coordinates | Controlled by | Deaths | Non-fatal | Deaths | Non-fatal | Unit | |||||
21 or 22 June 2015 | Mosul Dam | Nineveh | Kurdish forces | A 120-mm mortar shell fired at Peshmerga positions fail to explode.[3] | ||||||||
11 August 2015 | Makhmur | Nineveh | Tuesday night | Kurdish forces | Around 60 affected, 4 seriously. | Peshmerga | Mustard gas | According to Peshmerga officials, around 45 120-mm mortar shells were launched on Peshmerga positions.[4][5][6][7] Confirmed by US defense officials.[8][9] | ||||
11 August 2015 | Makhmur | Nineveh | Tuesday afternoon | Kurdish forces | Peshmerga | Chlorine | Katyusha rockets were launched on Peshmerga positions.[10] | |||||
12 August 2015 | Sultan Abdullah | Nineveh | Wednesday night | Kurdish forces | Peshmerga | Possibly Mustard gas | 45 shells were launched on Peshmerga positions.[11][12] | |||||
11 February 2016 | Sinjar | Nineveh | Thursday, between 1500–1600 | 200 meters behind the front line south of Sinjar. 36.26097487°N 41.82214949°E / 36.26097487; 41.82214949 |
Kurdish forces | - | 30 affected, 9 seriously. | The 8th Peshmerga brigade | Possibly Chlorine | IS militants reportedly fired 30 81mm mortar shells believed to have been filled with chlorine, at Kurdish troops.[13][14][15] | ||
8 March 2016 | Taza Khurmatu | Kirkuk | Late Tuesday and early Wednesday 9 March | Kurdish forces | 1 | Some 400 were exposed,[16] around 200 were injured, 16 seriously. | Possibly Mustard gas | 24 shells and rockets were fired into the village from IS positions in the nearby Bashir area.[17] A two or three-year-old girl wounded in the attack died on Friday 11 March.[18][16][19] | ||||
12 March 2016 | Taza Khurmatu | Kirkuk | Early Saturday | Kurdish forces | Unclear.[N 2] | Possibly Mustard gas | According to Iraqi security and hospital officials, chemical rockets were fired into a residential part of Taza.[2][20] | |||||
6 March 2017 | Mosul | Nineveh | Monday | Iraqi Security Forces | 4 killed | 25 wounded[22] | Unclear |
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Confirmed attacks
After around 35 Kurdish soldiers were injured during fighting against Islamic State militants southwest of Erbil in August 2015, samples were taken by OPCW in an investigation directed by the Iraqi government. In February 2016, a source at the OPCW confirmed that the samples tested positive for mustard gas.[1][23]
- All times given are given in local time unless otherwise stated.
- The two attacks in Taza, the one on 8-9 March and the one on 12 March, were reportedly wounding around 600.[20] 670 according to a statement made by the Iraqi Turkmen Front.[21]
- "US investigating whether Islamic State used chemical weapons". Ynetnews. AP, Reuters. 14 August 2015.
- "Peshmerga: ISIS may have used chemical weapons in Makhmur". Rudaw. 12 August 2015.
- "Early Tests Find Traces of Mustard Gas in ISIS Mortars". Arutz Sheva. 21 August 2015.
- "US military ordering troops in Iraq to dust off chemical weapon suits". Fox News. 3 September 2015.
- "Early Tests Find Traces of Mustard Gas in ISIS Mortars". Military.com. Fox News. 4 September 2015.
- "Kurdish forces fighting Isis report being attacked with chemical weapons". The Guardian. AFP. 13 August 2015.
- "Islamic State Uses Chemical Weapons Against Peshmerga in Makhmour". BasNews. 13 August 2015.
- "Kurdish forces say Islamic State group used chemical shells". AP. 18 February 2016.
- "Kurdish forces say Islamic State group used chemical weapons". Global News. AP. 18 February 2016.
- Dave Eubanks (12 February 2016). "FBR Report: ISIS Launches Chemical Attack in Sinjar Area". Free Burma Rangers.
- "Islamic State Struck Town With Chemical Weapons, Iraq Says". The Wall Street Journal. 11 March 2016.
- "Iraqi girl dies after IS chemical attack". AFP. 11 March 2016.
- "Turkman town harassed by ISIS mortar shells, some containing chemicals". Rudaw. 12 March 2016.
- "Iraqi officials: ISIS chemical weapons attacks kill child, wound 600". CBS News. AP. 12 March 2016.
- "Iraq: Injury toll in Daesh toxic gas attack rises to 670". News FultonCounty. 12 March 2016.
- "Mustard gas 'used in Iraq' in August". Yahoo! News. AFP. 15 February 2016.