Recent Russian warnings of an imminent chemical attack in opposition-held Idlib were aimed at justifying the military operation that the Syrian regime has been preparing for, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Britain-based rights monitor added that Russia has promoted and fabricated these lies through its media outlets and its ministry of defense. It noted the regime’s weeks-long buildup of vehicles, forces and fortifications in an anticipation for the announcement of the imminent offensive. These preparations have sparked fear among the citizens in the Idlib province, said the Observatory. Over the weekend, the Russian Defense Ministry said it monitored the delivery of “eight chlorine tanks” to a village located eight kilometers from Idlib’s Jisr al-Shughur town in order to “stage” a chemical attack. Reliable sources confirmed to the Observatory that the shipments reported by Russia were shipments that are periodically sent to water purification plants and pumping stations to sterilize water.