In an interview with The Times, Major-General Adnan Sillu. the head of the Assad regime's chemical weapons division who defected three months ago, has confirmed the regime had plans of using chemical weapons against its own citizens in Aleppo.
Speaking to The Times, in his first interview (see here) since he defected, he said:
“We were in a serious discussion about the use of chemical weapons, including how we would use them and in what areas. We discussed this as a last resort — such as if the regime lost control of an important area such as Aleppo.”
According to General Sillu, the Syrian regime were advised extensively by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, and also had plans of transferring supplies to Hezbollah.
“They [Iran's Revolutionary Guard] were always coming to visit and to advise. They were always sending us scientists and bringing our scientists to them,”
“They were also involved on the political side of how to use the chemical weapons.”
The German magazine Der Spiegel reported yesterday that the they were also present at the testing of a chemical weapons delivery system near Aleppo last month.
