Russian claims of UK chemical attack rejected as propaganda

THE most senior British officer in the fight against Isil has denounced Russian claims that Britain and the US are about to stage a chemical attack in Syria.

Maj Gen Felix Gedney, the deputy commander of the international military force to defeat Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, dismissed as “absolutely ridiculous propaganda” suggestions Britain and the US are about to launch chlorine-loaded missiles.

“The UK is a proud coalition member with a proven track record [to defeat Isil],” Maj Gen Gedney said in a tweet. “All [coalition] members condemn the use of chemical weapons.”

Earlier, Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov, the Russian defence spokesman, said that US cruise missile ships working with “British secret services” will target the settlement of Kafr Zayta, south of Idlib, “as a pretext for missile strikes by the West and the United States”.

The general said the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria had been told “English-speaking” foreign experts had arrived in the Hbit settlement to stage a “major provocation” early this week using chlorine-loaded missiles.

“The strike on the settlement of Kafr Zayta from rocket launchers using poisonous substances is planned in the next two days,” he said on Saturday.

Citing reports that terrorist groups had prepared eight containers of chlorine, Maj Gen Konashenkov said the presence of a US navy destroyer in the Gulf and a US air force bomber in Qatar showed an attack was imminent. He claimed a “group of terrorists” had been trained by a British private security firm to simulate the rescue of locals “allegedly hurt in the chemical attack”.