The Islamic State is intent on using chemical and nuclear weapons of mass destruction, and it has seized enough radioactive material to build a “dirty” bomb, according to Australian intelligence reports.
“The use of chlorine by Da’esh [the derogatory Arabic term for the Islamic State], and its recruitment of highly technically trained professionals, including from the West, have revealed far more serious efforts in chemical weapons development” than previously thought, said Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop at an international forum devoted to ending the use of chemical weapons.
“Da’esh is likely to have amongst its tens of thousands of recruits the technical expertise necessary to further refine precursor materials and build chemical weapons,” said Bishop.
Bishop told The Australian that her speech was based on Australian Department of Defence and Foreign Office reports.
When the Islamic State took over vast territory in Syria and Iraq, “the insurgents did not just clear out the cash from local banks,” she said. Militants have seized nuclear materials from research centers and hospitals that should only be in the hands of governments, according to NATO.
Just like President Bashar Assad before them, the Islamic State is weaponizing poisonous gases like chlorine, said Bishop. Islamic State militants have already used chlorine gas in a limited way against the peshmerga fighters in recent battles, according to multiple reports.
Islamic State militants could acquire a nuclear weapon from Pakistan, Indian defense officials have previously warned, according to the Independent.
The Islamic State is likely planning a major offensive in Syria and Iraq to celebrate the beginning of Ramadan, the Muslim holy period, warns Institute for the Study of War, a U.S. think tank. The Islamic State has followed this pattern for the past three years, it noted: “ISIS is likely to begin and end Ramadan with attempted spectacular military offensive actions in Iraq and Syria.”
