CIA: Islamic State Group Has Used Chemical Weapons

John Brennan, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), states that the Islamic State group (ISIS) has employed chemical weapons and has the capability to produce small amounts of chlorine and mustard gas. Brennan made these remarks in an interview with CBS's '60 Minutes,' a portion of which has been aired, with the full interview set to be broadcast next Sunday. According to a report by Agence France-Presse, the CIA chief mentioned that there have been instances where ISIS has used chemical munitions in battle, and there are reports indicating that the group has access to chemicals and munitions that it can deploy. He also stated that, according to CIA assessments, the group has the ability to produce small quantities of chlorine and mustard gas. Regarding the potential for ISIS to attempt to smuggle chemical weapons to the West for profit, Brennan expressed that he believes 'such a possibility exists, and that is why it is important to block the various lines of transfer of these materials and the smuggling routes that this group has used so far.' In response to a question about whether specific American teams are present and active in areas controlled by the Islamic State to locate chemical weapon shipments or laboratories, he stated, 'The U.S. intelligence community is actively involved in efforts to destroy this group and to ascertain what they possess in Syria and Iraq.' In addition to Brennan's statements, James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence, also mentioned in a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting last Tuesday that the Islamic State has used chemical agents, including mustard gas, in Iraq and Syria. Clapper emphasized that this is the first time since 1995, when a radical group known as 'Aum' attacked people in a Tokyo subway with sarin gas, that another extremist group has produced and used chemical weapons. Previously, the regime of Bashar al-Assad and its opponents in Syria have accused each other of using chemical weapons in battle, and in August 2013, a sarin gas attack occurred in the suburbs of Damascus, for which the international community held the Assad regime responsible. Following this, under the threat of the United States and the increasing likelihood of a military attack due to the use of chemical weapons, the Syrian government, under pressure from Russia, agreed to hand over its chemical weapons, and the 'Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons' was tasked with overseeing the removal and destruction of these materials. According to this organization, these weapons have now been completely destroyed. However, the organization has warned about the continued use of mustard gas, sarin, and chlorine in the Syrian civil war, without attributing blame to any specific party, whether the government, armed opposition groups, or ISIS. Last August, officials from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq announced that blood tests indicated ISIS had attacked Kurdish Peshmerga forces with mustard gas, and 35 of the injured were sent abroad for treatment. The Wall Street Journal reported at that time, citing U.S. officials, that they also believe ISIS used this weapon against the Peshmerga. In this context, Kerry: Reports of ISIS's use of chlorine gas in Iraq are being investigated. The Kurdistan Region: 'Islamic Caliphate' has used mustard gas against Kurds. Russia blocked the formation of a UN investigation team regarding chemical attacks in Syria. 'Use of mustard gas' in battles between 'ISIS' and rebels in Syria. Changing the game for 'proxy forces'; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of opponents and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Trump: I hope there is no need for further action regarding Iran; they were killing people without restraint. The shadow of war over Tehran; 'Trump is looking for decisive military options against Iran.' Trump says if the Islamic Republic attempts to assassinate him, 'it will be wiped off the face of the earth.' Trump emphasizes 'ending executions in Iran': we do not know what will happen in the future. A senior U.S. official: The Trump administration is closely monitoring the case of Reza Valizadeh.