Russian forces destroy 2 chemical arms bases in Syria: Official

The head of the Russian military’s branch for protection from chemical weapons says his forces have managed to dismantle two chemical weapons facilities in the formerly militant-held areas in war-torn Syria.

Major General Igor Kirillov said on Friday that Moscow will provide the data to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), without elaborating on the exact location of the facilities that were destroyed this month.

The two bases were the last out of the 27 chemical weapons sites in Syria, Russian media reported.

The Syrian government turned over its entire chemical stockpile under a deal negotiated by Russia and the US back in 2013.

The OPCW oversaw the operations to remove the chemical arsenal from Syria and destroy it.

Friday’s development raises doubts about the West claims that the Syrian army is in possession of chemical weapons.

On April 4, an alleged gas attack hit the town of Khan Shaykhun in Syria’s Idlib Province, killing more than 80 people.

The Western countries rushed to hold Damascus responsible for the incident, with the US launching a missile attack against Shayrat Airbase in Syria’s Homs Province on April 7.

Washington claimed that the air field targeted in the missile raid was the origin of the April 4 purported chemical attack.

Syria rejected the accusations, saying that militants, not pro-Damascus forces, were using chemical arms.