UN experts have unearthed evidence of the use of chemical weapons by the Islamic State jihadist group during the era of its self-proclaimed caliphate, says a report that was due to be debated by the Security Council on Monday.
Members of Unitad, the team of investigators responsible for helping to bring IS to account for its crimes, claim to have collected "
testimonial, digital and documentary evidence
" relating in particular to the use of chemical weapons in Iraq under the Caliphate (2014-2019).
Experts conclude that IS "
has manufactured and produced chemical rockets and mortars, chemical rocket launcher ammunition, chemical missile warheads and improvised explosive devices
".
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The investigation was particularly interested in "
the financing, supply and logistics of (ISIS) and its links with command elements, to better understand what were the alleged sites of manufacture, production and use of weapons in Iraq, to obtain additional information on the agents produced (...) and the delivery systems used
”.
Attack in 2016
The experts focused in particular on an attack perpetrated against Taza Khormatu on March 8, 2016. They claim to have collected "
a significant amount of evidence
", including "
payroll statements and elements of correspondence
" from the jihadist group .
The team “
examined evidence of compensation from families for the martyrdom of their members killed while handling chemical weapons...and records of training provided...to high-ranking officers on the use of chemical substances as weapons, in particular chemical dispersal devices
”.
Among the products used were "
aluminum phosphide, chlorine, Clostridium botulinum bacteria, cyanide, nicotine, ricin, and thallium sulphate
".
The report highlights “
the medical complications currently suffered by residents of Taza Khormatu (chronic diseases, cancers and reproductive disorders, in particular)
”.
It also discusses other major crimes, including mass sexual violence, the persecution of the Christian community of Iraq and other communities, as well as the destruction of cultural and religious heritage.
The jihadists had established in June 2014 a "
caliphate
" in a vast region straddling Iraq and Syria.
An international coalition, led by the United States, had fought the organization until the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) seized the last stronghold of IS in March 2019, Baghouz (eastern Syria), signing the end of the "
caliphate
".