Russian Reconciliation Center: HTS preparing false flag operation using chemical weapons in Syria’s Idlib

HMEIMIM, Syria (North Press) – The Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria in Hmeimim announced on Sunday that is was informed that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) was planning a provocation in Idlib.

The deputy head of the Russian Defence Ministry’s Center for Syrian Reconciliation, Rear Admiral Alexander Grynkiewicz, said that they were aware that HTS was preparing a provocation using chemical weapons in the south of the de-escalation zone in Idlib.

“Armed opposition groups are planning to film a video in both Ariha city and Basames town in order to claim later that Syrian government forces used chemical weapons, which are internationally forbidden, against civilians,” he added.

Grynkiewicz stated that according to the received information, preparations were ongoing and the video footage would be filmed with the participation the of White Helmets, a civil group that operates in opposition-held areas.

This is the Russian Reconciliation Center’s second statement during September regarding information about a chemical provocation, according to the center.

This statement was issued in conjunction with an intense Russian military operation in northwest Syria, where Russian warplanes targeted on Sunday points and headquarters of the Guardians of Religion Organization on the outskirts of Idlib and both its northern and western countryside.

Additionally, Russian airstrikes launched 27 raids on areas in the northwestern Idlib countryside, local sources confirmed to North Press.

“Armed opposition groups were planning to record video footage in Zawiya Mountain with the attendance of foreign media correspondents in order to report that a chemical attack was carried out,” the center confirmed on September 11.