Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — Iraq has acknowledged that Islamic State of Iraq and Levant captured a former chemical weapons facility.

The government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has informed the United Nations that ISIL seized a CW production plant of the former regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

In a letter to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, Baghdad said the CW complex at Muthanna, 72 kilometers northwest of Baghdad, was captured from the army on June 11.

“The government will resume its efforts with regards to its obligations
as soon as the security situation has improved and control of the facility
has been regained,” the letter by Iraqi envoy to the UN, Mohammed Al Hakim,
said.

Flashback: UN inspectors: Saddam shipped out WMD before war and after

The letter, dated July 1, said Muthanna contained “remnants of the former
chemical weapons program.” The Iraqi diplomat said the facility, located
near Samara, was looted by “armed terrorist groups.”

Al Hakim did not cite the CW left at Muthanna.

In 2004, the UN reported that Muthanna contained 2,000 155 mm rockets meant to be filled with sarin as
well as 180 tons of sodium cyanide.

The United States was the first to report the ISIL takeover of Muthanna. But Washington said Muthanna did not contain equipment that could reliably produce CW.

“[It] would be very difficult, if not impossible, to safely use this for military purposes or, frankly, to move it,” State Department spokeswoman Jen
Psaki said.

  Ban Ki-Moon, Iraq government confirms to UN that ISIL seized chemical weapons facility, Mohammed Al Hakim, Muthanna, Nouri Al Maliki