Chemical weapons seized by militants no threat to Iraq
Stockpiled weapons in a former chemical weapons depot seized by militants in Iraq are non-functional, according to Iraq's foreign ministry.
Iraq's foreign ministry released a statement on Friday saying it did not believe the militants led by the Islamic State would be able to make the weapons in the Al-Muthanna facility, northwest of capital Baghdad, functional because they are old and contaminated.
“The substances could not threaten Iraq's security,” the ministry said.
The Al-Muthanna complex was used by former military ruler Saddam Hussein during the Iraq-Iran war, which ran from 1980 to 1988.
Iraqi officials said the United Nations Special Commission supervised the complex and that much of the material was destroyed between 1991 and 1994.
In a letter circulated at the United Nations, Iraq's UN Ambassador Mohamed Ali Alhakim told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the Al-Muthanna site had been captured by rebels on 11 June.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
