Aleppo district shelled with chemical gas – local journalist to RT

A neighborhood in the Syrian city of Aleppo, which is held by Kurdish YPG militias, has been shelled with chemical agents from territory held by Islamist and FSA factions, a local journalist on the ground has told to RT.

“The attack was carried out between 11.30 and 12.00 local time. The gas that was used in this attack, caused choking and malaise among those affected. This indicates that the poisoning substances were used in the attack,” journalist Nawrouz Uthman reports.

Uthman adds that 23 people were killed and over 100 injured in Thursday’s attack.

Video filmed by the journalist shows yellow gas rising over the Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood.

The Kurdish Red Cresent has confirmed the reports alleging that a chemical weapons attack took place.

Walaat Mamu, doctor at a local hospital, said that several victims came to the hospital with symptoms of suffocation after the shelling.

“The victims mostly come with symptoms of suffocation as a result of the shelling of the Sheikh Maksoud toxic gases. It is not established exactly which specific poisonous substance was used in the shelling. However, symptoms that the victims have been showing make it possible to ascertain that they were poisoned as a result of [inhaling] of banned toxic gasses,” the health worker said.

A video shot in the Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood shows several men experiencing difficulty breathing and a voice behind the camera saying there was a chemical attack in the area.

One of the victims described his physical state on camera.
“Suddenly I felt dizzy and unwell. I could not stand up. And now, I still feel bad, I can’t stand up or walk, my entire body is weakened.”

Kurdish journalist Kovan Direj reported that civilians and People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters had been exposed to yellow smoke. He said nine civilians were killed and 29 injured in the shelling.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that more than 1,000 Al-Nusra militants, along with seven tanks and 24 all-terrain vehicles armed with heavy machine guns, are currently based on the northern outskirts of Aleppo.

The Russian military also stated that, over the past 24 hours, Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) and Al-Nusra militants have been stepping up armed provocations against civilians and government troops in the area, which included an attempt to capture the village of Handrat.

“Over the past 24 hours [the militants] shelled he village Handrat with mortars 6 times, killed two and wounded six more civilians,” according to the Russian center for reconciliation in Syria.

READ MORE: Syrian Kurds say jihadists used phosphorus in chemical attack in Aleppo

Last month, Islamist fighters used yellow phosphorous in a chemical attack on the Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood, according to YPG.

“We hereby inform you that on March 8, 2016 at 15:00, shelling [was carried out] with rockets that carry chemical material, which we believe to be yellow phosphorous chemical weapon, on Sheikh Maqsud neighborhood by the Syrian armed opposition factions and battalions,” Redur Xelilm, YPG’s spokesman, said in a statement.

Several Kurdish militia soldiers were admitted to a hospital following the reported chemical attack, according to RT’s sources in the YPG.
The victims were reportedly suffering from itching skin and other symptoms of a chemical poisoning.

The ceasefire in Syria came into force at midnight Damascus time on February 27. The truce does not cover groups officially recognized as terror-organizations by the UN Security Council, namely Islamic State and Al Nusra, as well as several others.