Chemical security

U.N. Investigates Possible Chemical Weapons Use by Turkish Forces in Syria

United Nations chemical-weapons inspectors announced that they are investigating whether Turkish forces used chemical weapons in their invasion of Syria, the Guardian reported Friday.

The Kurds have accused Turkey of using white phosphorous during their recent incursion into northeastern Syria. The Kurdish Red Crescent claims that six patients, including civilians and military members, have been hospitalized in the city of Hasakah due to burns from “unknown weapons.”

The organization could not confirm chemical-weapons usage, saying it was “working together with our international partners to investigate this subject.” However, a British chemical-weapons expert who examined a photo of one of the victims said the burns on the victim were likely from a chemical weapon.

“The most likely culprit is white phosphorus,” said Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former commander of Britain’s chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear regiment. “It is a horrific weapon, and has been used repeatedly during the Syrian civil war; unfortunately its use has become increasingly normalized.”