Russian officials: ISIS Used Chemical Weapons in Syria and Iraq

The Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman once again emphasized the use of chemical weapons by the ISIL terrorists in Syria and Iraq.

Moscow welcomes the release of the third UN and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) report on chemical weapons use in Syria, which confirms that Daesh militants have chemical weapons, the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday during her weekly press briefing, Sputnik reported.

"I would like to comment on the release of the third report of the joint UN-OPCW mechanism to investigate chemical weapons use in Syria. We welcome the release of this report… we can say this now, and of course this was not a revelation for us that Daesh militants have chemical weapons, they use them not only in Iraq, but also Syria," she added.

The Spokesperson reminded that Moscow had warned about the ISIL being in possession of chemical weapons numerous times.

Maria Zakharova also said that the policy of some Western states had triggered increase in terrorism. She criticized the opponents of President Bashar al-Assad for reluctance to help settle the Syrian crisis.

The United States Wednesday called on Russia and Iran to join efforts to seek accountability for those responsible for using chemical weapons in Syria, after the United Nations released the results of a probe into chemical weapons attacks in Syria in 2014 and 2015 that implicated the Syrian government and the ISIL terrorist group.

Syrian envoy to the United Nations Bashar Jaafari told Sputnik that the UN ignored hundreds of reports on chemical attacks filed by the Syrian government. Syria's Permanent Representative to the UN also revealed that France was involved in the deadly chemical attacks that took place in Syria back in 2013.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that the United States should do what it promised to do regarding separating the moderate Syrian opposition from terrorists instead of making claims regarding Damascus allegedly using chemical weapons.

"They should look in the mirror and do what they have been promising to do since January – to separate the opposition which they consider loyal from terrorists. They cannot do this, they are either unable to do this or do not want to do it," Lavrov told reporters.

The ISIL terrorists has used chemical weapons several times in attack against the residents of Syrian and Iraqi towns and villages as well as government forces, killing hundreds of people.

Syria has been mired in bloody war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Assad Assad fighting numerous terrorist groups.