Chemical weapon use in the War in Iraq (2013–2017) by IS has been confirmed by the OPCW and US defense officials.

Incidents

Reported attacks The table below lists reported chemical weapons attacks in the Iraqi Civil War.

Date Location Governorate Impact points Civilian victims Soldier/militias victims CW-agent Notes Time of day Coordinates Controlled by Deaths Non-fatal Deaths Non-fatal Unit 21 or 22 June 2015 Mosul Dam Nineveh Kurdish forces A 120-mm mortar shell fired at Peshmerga positions fail to explode. 11 August 2015 Makhmur Nineveh Tuesday night Kurdish forces Around 60 affected, 4 seriously. Peshmerga Mustard gasAccording to Peshmerga officials, around 45 120-mm mortar shells were launched on Peshmerga positions. Confirmed by US defense officials. 11 August 2015 Makhmur Nineveh Tuesday afternoon Kurdish forces Peshmerga Chlorine Katyusha rockets were launched on Peshmerga positions. 12 August 2015 Sultan Abdullah Nineveh Wednesday night Kurdish forces Peshmerga Possibly Mustard gas 45 shells were launched on Peshmerga positions. 11 February 2016 Sinjar Nineveh Thursday, between 1500–1600 200 meters behind the front line south of Sinjar. Kurdish forces - 30 affected, 9 seriously. The 8th Peshmerga brigade Possibly Chlorine IS militants reportedly fired 30 81mm mortar shells believed to have been filled with chlorine, at Kurdish troops. 8 March 2016 Taza Khurmatu Kirkuk Late Tuesday and early Wednesday 9 March Kurdish forces 1 Some 400 were exposed, around 200 were injured, 16 seriously. Possibly Mustard gas 24 shells and rockets were fired into the village from IS positions in the nearby Bashir area. A two or three-year-old girl wounded in the attack died on Friday 11 March. 12 March 2016 Taza Khurmatu Kirkuk Early Saturday Kurdish forces Unclear. Possibly Mustard gas According to Iraqi security and hospital officials, chemical rockets were fired into a residential part of Taza. 6 March 2017 Mosul Nineveh Monday Iraqi Security Forces 4 killed 25 wounded Unclear

Confirmed attacks After around 35 Kurdish soldiers were injured during fighting against Islamic State militants southwest of Erbil in August 2015, samples were taken by OPCW in an investigation directed by the Iraqi government. In February 2016, a source at the OPCW confirmed that the samples tested positive for mustard gas.

See also Use of chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war Iraq and weapons of mass destruction Iraqi chemical weapons program

Notes

References