Turkey denies using chemical weapons in Syria

MENA

Published: 2018-02-17 14:23

Last Updated: 2024-03-29 01:03


Smoke rises in Afrin city after Turkish airstrikes on January 28. Photo courtesy of George Ourfalian/AFP
Smoke rises in Afrin city after Turkish airstrikes on January 28. Photo courtesy of George Ourfalian/AFP

A Turkish diplomatic source denied his country used chemical weapons in operation Olive Tree in in the Syrian city of Afrin Syria, after monitoring groups and Syrian Kurdish forces made accusations, according to Reuters.

“These are baseless accusations. Turkey never used chemical weapons. We take utmost care about civilians in Operation Olive Branch,” the source said.

The source also described accusations of wounding six civilians through a suspected gas attack as “black propaganda”.
In January the Turkish forces started a military offensive against Kurdish armed forces in northern Syria claiming the operation aimed to defeat terrorist groups around Turkey.

They also insisted the operation was not against Kurds but only targeted terrorist groups. Turkey also criticised American support for these groups and described it as a sort of “double standards”.