Islamic State Uses Chlorine Gas in Iraqi Anbar Province

This is the second chemical attack by the terrorist organization on Iraqi territory.

MOSCOW, December 25 (Sputnik) – Islamic State is reported to have carried out a chlorine gas attack in the city of Hit in Iraqi province al-Anbar, stated IraqiNews.com.

“The ISIL terrorists bombarded Baghdadi district of western Anbar province with mortar shells loaded with chlorine gas,” a source said on condition of anonymity, cited by the news website.

According to the source, residents of the province are lacking food and water as IS militants blocked the city, keeping water department employees out of the region. There is also a shortage of medicaments and milk for children; four children have already died.

Chlorine gas is a chemical substance, which irritates and damages lung tissue. The substance is easily produced from ordinary table salt and is used in an everyday life to eliminate bacteria in public sanitation facilities. Used in small amounts, chlorine helps disinfect water and doesn’t have any negative effects on human’s health. However, high concentrations of the gas are very dangerous due to its high level of toxicity.

IS has reportedly used chlorine gas in the town of Duluiyah, Iraq, in autumn 2014. It was the first registered chemical attack by IS, according to Portland Press Herald.