DISINFO: White Helmets, terrorists plotting false-flag chemical attack in Syria's Idlib
SUMMARY
The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group, together with members of the pseudo-humanitarian organisation White Helmets, are plotting to stage the use of toxic substances and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in the settlements of the southern part of the Idlib de-escalation zone. The purpose of these provocations is the preparation of photo and video materials for distribution on Internet resources, Middle Eastern and Western media publications with allegations that Syrian government forces were using chemical weapons against civilians and conducting indiscriminate attacks.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative painting the White Helmets as a terrorist group, as well as seeking to absolve the Assad regime of responsibility for chemical attacks perpetrated in the course of the Syrian civil war. The claim is made without evidence and follows the pattern of unsubstantiated accusations regarding the White Helmets' complicity in chemical attacks in Syria. Available evidence on such attacks has yet to link a single incident to any other party than the Assad regime. See here and here for instances of self-contradictory reporting by RT and Sputnik alleging that earlier chemical "provocations" in Syria never came to pass because Moscow officials had exposed them in time.