ISIS' CHEMICAL WEAPONS CAPABILITY COLLAPSES IN SYRIA AFTER BATTLEFIELD LOSSES

[jpak]

http://www.newsweek.com/isis-chemical-weapons-capability-collapses-after-losses-mosul-and-raqqa-624828


As the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) continues to lose territory in Iraq and Syria, its chemical weapons capabilities this year have been severely reduced, according to new analysis.

Since July 2014, ISIS has been accused of using chemical weapons at least 71 times—30 in Syria and 41 in Iraq, mostly chlorine and mustard gas. But this year, there has only been one reported ISIS chemical attack in Syria, in January near Aleppo, compared with 13 attacks in the same area six months prior, according to London-based defense consultancy IHS Markit.

The decline of chemical weapons attacks in Syria is a combination of a loss of territory and a continued degradation of the group’s weapons arsenal and chemical weapons experts, analysts say.

“The operation to isolate and recapture the Iraqi city of Mosul coincides with a massive reduction in Islamic State chemical weapons use in Syria,” said Columb Strack, senior Middle East analyst at IHS Markit.

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[jmg257]

1. Sweet! Some good news!