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Damascus Says Militants Plot to Stage ‘Chemical Attack’ in Idlib

The United Nations vehicle carrying the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspectors is seen in Damascus, Syria. (Reuters/File)
The United Nations vehicle carrying the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspectors is seen in Damascus, Syria. (Reuters/File)
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Damascus Says Militants Plot to Stage ‘Chemical Attack’ in Idlib

The United Nations vehicle carrying the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspectors is seen in Damascus, Syria. (Reuters/File)
The United Nations vehicle carrying the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspectors is seen in Damascus, Syria. (Reuters/File)

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said that al-Qaeda linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group plans to stage a chemical attack in Syria’s Idlib, affirming that chlorine gas barrels were recently delivered through Bab Al-Hawa border crossing to Atma.

Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted a reliable source from the Ministry as saying that a chemical factory and a laboratory for preparing Chlorine are located in Atma.

According to SANA, the source said those acts are "guided and supported by the US, some Western countries and Turkish intelligence services."

In this regard, the Syrian Foreign Ministry demanded that the countries that sponsor terror groups stop their games that could lead to civilian casualties.

"Syria will hold the countries that support those terrorists responsible for using toxic materials and killing innocent civilians without any moral deterrent."

“Syria also calls on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to not ignore that information" the statement read, stressing "the need to take it very seriously and deal with it within the framework of its mandate specified in light of the Chemical Weapons’ Convention.”

The Ministry also affirmed in its statement that fabricating chemical scenarios won’t affect Syria’s stance in combating terrorism.

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Schools Closed in Beirut after Deadly Israeli Strike

Firefighters douse flames at the site of an Israeli strike on a building in the Lebanese capital - AFP
Firefighters douse flames at the site of an Israeli strike on a building in the Lebanese capital - AFP
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Schools Closed in Beirut after Deadly Israeli Strike

Firefighters douse flames at the site of an Israeli strike on a building in the Lebanese capital - AFP
Firefighters douse flames at the site of an Israeli strike on a building in the Lebanese capital - AFP

Schools in Beirut were closed on Monday after Israeli strikes on the Lebanese capital killed six people including Hezbollah's spokesman, the latest in a string of top militant targets slain in the war.

Israel escalated its bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds in late September, vowing to secure its northern border with Lebanon to allow Israelis displaced by cross-border fire to return home.

Sunday's strikes hit densely populated districts of central Beirut that had so far been spared the violence engulfing other areas of Lebanon.

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The strikes prompted the education ministry to shut schools and higher education institutions in the Beirut area for two days.

Children and young people around Lebanon have been heavily impacted by the war, which has seen schools around the country turned into shelters for the displaced.

Lebanese authorities say more than 3,480 people have been killed since October last year, with most casualties recorded since September.

Israel says 48 soldiers have been killed fighting Hezbollah, AFP reported.

Another strike hit a busy shopping district of Beirut, sparking a huge blaze that engulfed part of a building and several shops nearby.

Lebanon's National News Agency said the fire had largely been extinguished by Monday morning, noting it had caused diesel fuel tanks to explode.

"In a quarter of an hour our whole life's work was lost," said Shukri Fuad, who owned a shop destroyed in the strike.

Ayman Darwish worked at an electronics shop that was hit.

"Everyone knows us, everyone knows this area is a civilian area, no one is armed here," he said.

One of those killed in the strike, Darwish said, was the son of the owner of the store where he worked.

"The martyr Mahmud used to come after working hours, in the evenings and even on Sundays, to deal with client requests," he said.

The NNA reported new strikes early Monday on locations around south Lebanon, long a stronghold of Hezbollah.