Syria and Islamic State blamed for chemical attacks
UNITED NATIONS -- An international team has blamed the Syrian government and Islamic State militants for chemical attacks in the conflict-wracked nation during 2014 and 2015, a French diplomat said Wednesday.
The joint body, known as the JIM, was set up by the Security Council last year and was investigating nine cases of alleged chemical use.
According to excerpts from the report obtained by The Associated Press, the JIM found conclusive evidence in three cases.
It said the Syrian government was responsible for two chlorine attacks in Idlib governorate, one in Talmenes on April 21, 2014 and one in Sarmin on March 16, 2015. And it said the Islamic State group was "the only entity with the ability, capability, motive and the means to use sulfur mustard" gas in Marea in Aleppo governorate on Aug. 21, 2015.
The JIM said three other cases it investigated pointed toward government responsibility but weren't conclusive and three more cases were inconclusive. It called for further investigations in several instances.
