Syria claims many dead after Usled raids hit IS’ cache of poison gas

BEIRUT: The Syrian army said that an air strike by the Us-led coalition hit poison gas supplies belonging to the Islamic State, releasing a toxic substance that killed “hundreds, including many civilians”.

The incident in the eastern Deir al-zor province proved that Islamic State and al Qaedalinked militants “possess chemical weapons”, a statement by the army flashed on Thursday by Syrian state TV said.

US Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, a spokesman for the coalition, said it had carried out no air strikes in the area of Deir al-zor at the time, calling the claim “incorrect and likely intentional misinformation”.

Syria and ally Russia say insurgents fighting the government have stocks of poison gas, seeking to pin the blame on the rebels for a chemical weapons attack that killed scores of people in northwest Syria on April 4. WASHINGTON: North Korea is ready to launch a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, the 38 North monitoring group has reported.

The 38 North analysis group described the test site as “primed and ready.” “Commercial satellite imagery of North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site from April 12 shows continued activity around the North Portal, new activity in the Main Administrative Area, and a few personnel around the site’s Command Center,” the North Korea-related analysis website said.

A barrage of recent North Korean missile tests has stoked US fears that Pyongyang may soon develop an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead to the US mainland.

There is speculation that the country could be preparing a missile launch, or even another nuclear test — this would be its sixth — to mark the 105th birthday anniversary of its founder Kim Il-sung on Saturday.

The Voice of America , quoting sources said North Korea “has apparently placed a nuclear device in a tunnel and it could be detonated Saturday.”