France warns ‘every indication’ al-assad regime using toxic gas

France warns ‘every indication’ al-assad regime using toxic gas

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Jean-Yves Le Drian said there is “every indication” the Syrian president’s regime used toxic gas against civilians during a offensives on the rebel-held Idlib province and in the besieged


enclave of eastern Ghouta. Mr Le Drian told French channel BFM TV: “I am speaking with caution because you have to be careful pending full documentation, but there is every indication that


at the moment chlorine is being used by the Syrian regime against civilians.” The foreign minister stressed the United Nations was yet to confirm that claim. He said: “A UN investigation


into the regime’s suspected use of chlorine gas as a chemical weapon was launched on Tuesday… The chemical weapons threat is real, the situation is very grave.” Asked whether he wanted


Turkey to stop its military offensive in Syria, Mr Le Drian said that he wanted the “withdrawal of all of those who ought not to be in Syria, including Iranian militia, including Hezbollah”.


While he did not specifically call for Turkey to end its controversial offensive, he said Ankara should not fuel the conflict. He said: “Ensuring the security of its borders does not mean


killing civilians and that should be condemned. In a dangerous situation in Syria, (Turkey) should not add war to war.” In his most damning claim yet, Mr Le Drian said international law was


being violated “by Turkey, by the Damascus regime, by Iran and by those who are attacking eastern Ghouta and Idlib”. The foreign minister said “around 100” French jihadists had recently been


arrested by Kurdish forces in north-eastern Syria. Mr Le Drian also slammed the controversial Holocaust bill passed by the Polish senate last week, saying that rewriting history was “never


a good idea”.