U.S. turns Islamic State chemical weapons expert over to Iraqi government
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 10 March 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. turns Islamic State chemical weapons expert over to Iraqi government, 10 March 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/570cdfd512.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
March 10, 2016
The U.S. military says it has transferred an Islamic State (IS) chemical weapons expert captured last month, to the control of Iraq's government.
Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook told reporters on March 10 that Sulayman Dawud al-Bakkar was transferred to Iraqi control after the U.S. used information he provided to conduct airstrikes against the extremist group's chemical weapons production facilities.
Cook said the airstrikes conducted as a result of al-Bakkar's capture "disrupted and degraded" the group's chemical weapons capabilities.
"We feel good about the damage we've done to the program," he said.
Al-Bakkar, who is about 50 years old, once worked for Saddam Hussein's Military Industrialization Authority where he specialized in chemical and biological weapons.
Iraqi and U.S. officials have said that he was captured by U.S. Special Forces in a raid last month.
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
