Fifteen Kurdish Fighters Being Treated After ISIL Chemical Attack

At least 15 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are receiving medical treatment following the recent use of chemical weapons by Islamic State militants in northern Iraq, Peshmerga told Sputnik on Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik), Alexander Mosesov — The Peshmerga general command said on Thursday that ISIL had launched 45 mortar shells with chemical warheads on Kurdish army positions in Iraq.

"Fifteen Peshmerga receiving treatment in hospital now. Masks have been delivered on front lines. The mortars contained acid and gasses in them," Peshmerga said in a statement.

Following the reports of mortar shells with poison gas being used near the Makhmur district in Iraq, a German Defense Ministry spokesman said Berlin had indications of a chemical weapon attack. Media also cited senior US officials saying that the United States suspected the Islamic State of using mustard gas in Iraq.