WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Islamic State’s recent alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria and Iraq highlights the need for a political settlement to the Syrian crisis, State Department spokesperson Noel Clay told Sputnik.
"These allegations are also a stark reminder to the international community of the threats posed by the ongoing chaos in Syria and the urgency of reaching a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Syria," Clay said on Wednesday.
US authorities have seen reports that the Islamic State used a chemical "blistering agent" in Iraq and Syria, which would be a "flagrant disregard for international standards and norms," Clay added.
Recent reports of Islamic State chemical weapons usage comes amid efforts by US and Russian diplomats to find a path toward a political solution to the crisis in Syria.
Later on Friday, the US government said that the resignation of Syria’s President Bashar Assad was "an important part of the fight" against the Islamic State, according to a State Department press release.
Russia, in contrast, has said it believes Assad should be part of any political solution, and the Syrians should decide the future of their own government.
