Warning About the Islamic State's Use of Chemical Weapons in Mosul

Two international organizations have warned about the potential use of chemical weapons by the Islamic State (ISIS) in the battle for Mosul. The International Red Cross and the International Organization for Migration have stated that there is a high likelihood that ISIS will use chemical weapons against civilians. Robert Mardini, a spokesperson for the Red Cross, said on Tuesday, October 27, that the organization has provided necessary training to its relief personnel around Mosul and has sent essential equipment to medical facilities in the area. Thomas Weiss, head of the IOM office in Iraq, also warned that ISIS 'may use chemical weapons.' He added that the organization has been unable to procure and distribute 'a large number of gas masks.' The head of the IOM office in Iraq also warned that the self-proclaimed Islamic government 'may use tens of thousands of Mosul residents as human shields.' These statements come as Iraqi forces continue their advance around the city on the second day of the Mosul liberation operation after a temporary pause. Ato Zibari, a commander of the Peshmerga forces, told Radio Farda that the advance of his forces around Mosul has not stopped, and the Kurdish Peshmerga have only repositioned their forces to start operations from other axes in the coming days. The Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmerga bear the brunt of the ground operations, while the international coalition led by the United States supports them with bombings, air patrols, and missile strikes on ISIS positions. Meanwhile, the Syrian army command has issued a statement claiming that the U.S. is seeking to establish safe routes for ISIS members to transfer them from Mosul into Syria. France has also announced an emergency international meeting regarding Mosul on Thursday, October 29, in Paris. Jean-Marc Ayrault, the French Foreign Minister, stated that at the Paris meeting, he will discuss with his Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jaafari and senior representatives from 20 countries about how to protect civilians and assist the citizens of Mosul. Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq after Baghdad, fell under the control of ISIS militants in the summer of 2014 with minimal resistance from Iraqi forces. Shortly thereafter, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of this group, declared himself the caliph of Muslims while delivering a prayer in the Mosul mosque.