Western media hurriedly blamed Syria of using chemical weapons: Russia

Russia has accused the western media of being quick to accuse Damascus of using chemical weapons in Syria and said that attempts were apparently made to put the onus on Moscow.

TASS news agency quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying on Wednesday, "On April 4, Syrian Air Force carried out airstrikes on the eastern outskirts of the city of Khan Sheikhoun as part of the operation to deal with the aftermath of the recent breakthrough by armed groups in the Hama province. Reports on the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government against its own people appeared online and in some biased media outlets instantly."

Zakharova added, "Curiously enough, at first there were reports that ammunition stuffed with toxic substances was dropped from Russian aircraft followed by reports on the number of the so-called victims of the chemical attack and video footage showing dying and dead children, women and the elderly."

She noted that the information provided by the White Helmets, which was used as a basis for news reports about the developments in the region, was constantly changing. Various types of the warfare poisonous agents that were used during the strikes were mentioned.

She recalled that, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, Syrian aircraft carried out an airstrike on the eastern outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun in the afternoon on April 4 destroying the workshops where militants manufactured ammunition stuffed with toxic substances that were supplied to Iraq and were also used in Aleppo.

The White House and the UK have blamed the regime of President Bashar al-Assad for what appeared to be a targeted chemical attack on a rebel-held town in Idlib province, which caused the death of at least 10 children.

The World Health Organization said the victims bore the signs of exposure to nerve agents, and Amnesty International said evidence pointed to an "air-launched chemical attack." International agencies were working to establish the provenance of the agents used in the strike.

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