The Islamic State militants have used chlorine against Iraqi security forces and Shia militias in September north of Baghdad in what appears to be the first documented use of this gas by the radical Sunni group since their blitz offensive in June, Associated Press reports, citing Iraqi officials.
Chlorine gas was allegedly used in the town of Duluiyah, located 75 kilometers (45 miles) north of the Iraqi capital, on September 15. Security forces exchanged fire with Islamists, who then retreated. Soon after, Iraqis heard “a strange explosion”, a survivor of the attack recalled, according to the Washington Post. The explosion was followed by “a yellow smoke in the sky,” said Lt. Khairalla al-Jabbouri, 31, as quoted by the newspaper. “I felt suffocated,” al-Jabbouri stated, adding he “was throwing up and couldn’t breathe.”
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