MOSCOW, April 5. /TASS/. Western media were quick to accuse Damascus of using chemical weapons, attempts were made to put the blame on Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said on Wednesday.
"On April 4, Syrian Air Force carried out airstrikes on the eastern outskirts of the city of Khan Sheikhoun as part of the operation to deal with the aftermath of the recent breakthrough by armed groups in the Hama province," she said.
"Reports on the alleged use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government against its own people appeared online and in some biased media outlets instantly," Zakharova went on to say. "Curiously enough, at first there were reports that ammunition stuffed with toxic substances was dropped from Russian aircraft followed by reports on the number of the so-called victims of the chemical attack and video footage showing dying and dead children, women and the elderly."
Zakharova noted that the information provided by the White Helmets, which was used as a basis for news reports about the developments in the region, was constantly changing. Various types of the warfare poisonous agents that were used during the strikes were mentioned.
She recalled that, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, Syrian aircraft carried out an airstrike on the eastern outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun in the afternoon on April 4 destroying the workshops where militants manufactured ammunition stuffed with toxic substances that were supplied to Iraq and were also used in Aleppo.