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On October 26, the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria warned that the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front, now known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), is preparing to carry out a false-flag attack with the use of shells armed with toxic chemicals in its areas of control in the northwestern Syrian region of Greater Idlib.
Major General Oleg Yegorov, deputy head of the center, said that the terrorist group wants to blame the chemical attack on Syrian government forces.
“The terrorists intend to organize a provocation in order to accuse the Syrian government forces of using poisonous substances against the civilian population,” Maj. Gen. Yegorov said at a press briefing.
According to the Russian military official, HTS terrorists have already moved 36 rocket-propelled projectiles armed with toxics to a mountainous area in southern Greater Idlib.
By staging a false-flag chemical attack in Greater Idlib, HTS is likely trying to provoke military strikes by the United States and its Western allies against Syrian government forces. The U.S. carried out such strikes in 2017, and again in 2018 along with France and the United Kingdom.
Any provocation by HTS will be a violation of the ceasefire in Greater Idlib, which was brokered by Russia and Turkey more than two years ago.
The Russian military warned HTS against carrying out such provocations on several occasions over the last few years. In some cases, warning airstrikes targeted the terrorists who were preparing such provocations. Despite of this, the terrorist group is still working to develop chemical weapons. Meanwhile, Turkey and the West continue to turn a blind eye.
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