IS Chemical Weapons Expert Killed in Coalition Airstrike

As Islamic State chemical weapons expert was reportedly killed during an airstrike launched by the anti-IS coalition.

MOSCOW, January 31 (Sputnik) — US Central Command announced Friday that an Islamic State (IS) chemical weapons expert was killed in an airstrike made by anti-IS coalition last week near Mosul, Iraq, Reuters reported.

Abu Malik, who used to be a chemical weapons engineer during the rule of Saddam Hussein and then joined al Qaeda in Iraq, was killed Jan. 24, Central Command said in a statement, according to the news agency.

The statement also claimed that Abu Malik’s affiliation with Islamic State gave the insurgent force a chemical weapons capability.

"His death is expected to temporarily degrade and disrupt the terrorist network and diminish ISIL's ability to potentially produce and use chemical weapons against innocent people," Reuters quoted the statement.

The Islamic State extremist group, that has been making advances in Iraq since June, has been suspected of using chemicals as a weapon, according to media reports, citing local officials. The militant group has reportedly used chlorine against the Iraqi forces over in the recent months.