1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

CIA: 'IS' capable of making chemical weapons

February 12, 2016

CIA Director John Brennan has said IS has used chemical weapons on multiple occasions. Now the spy agency head has said the group also has the ability to make small amounts of chlorine and mustard gas.

https://p.dw.com/p/1HuAF
Aleppo Syrien Senfgas Anschlag IS Daesh
Image: picture-alliance/AA/M.Omer

"We have a number of instances where ISIL has used chemical munitions on the battlefield," CIA Director John Brennan said in excerpts of an interview with CBS News to be broadcast on Sunday, referring to "Islamic State" by an alternate acronym.

There have been previous claims that IS had used chemical weapons against Kurdish fighters in Iraq and Syria. Iraqi Kurdish claims were later verified by testing.

There has also been speculation the group had either captured chemical weapons stocks in Syria or had gained access to precursors agents to make chemical weapons.

But Brennan's comments add greater certainty to the terror group's production capability.

"There are reports that ISIL has access to chemical precursors and munitions that they can use," Brennan said, adding that there was "always potential" for IS to try to sneak chemical weapons into the West to carry out an attack.

"This is why it's so important to cut off the various transportation routes and smuggling routes that they have used," he said.

Brennan's comments come two days after James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, told a congressional hearing Islamic State had used chemical weapons including mustard gas.

cw/sms (AFP, CBS)