Russia warns of provocations being prepared by militants in Syria

Provocations with the use of toxic chemicals are being planned in some regions in Syria, in particular in the Aleppo region, the spokesman for Russia’s Defense Ministry, Major General Igor Konashenkov said.

"Yesterday, residents of the Aleppo province informed [us] that militants were preparing another action. Members of the White Helmets organization have arrived at populated localities of Azaz, Marea and Chobanbei carrying professional video equipment. Along with this, tanks with poisonous substances, allegedly chlorine gas, have been brought in," TASS cited Konashenkov as saying.

The spokesman added that militants of the Turkistan Islamic Party (outlawed in Russia) have transported 20 ten-liter containers with chlorine to Syria’s Idlib province to carry out provocations.