The Islamic State (I.S.) allegedly killed at least 300 Iraqi soldiers in a chlorine gas attack on an army battalion in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, a lawmaker from the Shia-dominated National Iraqi alliance said on Monday.
"I.S. killed 300 out of 400 soldiers they besieged in Saqlawiya district of northern Fallujah, using chlorine gas." said MP Ali al-Budairi in a press conference.
Although the attack was confirmed, it is unclear when it took place, however it is not the first time that the extremist group used chlorine gas in attacks. There are reports by press and authorities in the region that the I.S. militants used the chemical substance before.
Further, the Iraqi military had launched a U.S.-backed major operation against the I.S. in the city of Fallujah earlier in the day.
The I.S. fighters control large parts of Syria's east and north, and they also sent militants into Iraq in June, seizing large swathes of land straddling the border between Syria and Iraq.
According to official figures provided by government agencies and international organizations, the violence conducted by the I.S. militants has claimed more than 1,400 lives in Iraq.
The rise of the Islamic State (I.S.) will be one of the most pressing issues on the agenda as governmental leaders gather in New York for the U.N. General Assembly this week.
Last week, U.S. president Barack Obama said that Washington is "ready to lead" the fight against I.S. “terrorists” in Syria and Iraq, but all countries "should contribute to this effort."
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