Iraqi Kurdish forces attacked with chemical weapons: Germany defense ministry

Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers take up positions, south of Kirkuk, northern Iraq, 06 July 2015 (EPA Photo)

Kurdish forces in northern Iraq who are fighting ISIS terrorists were attacked with chemical weapons a few days ago, the German defense ministry said on Thursday.

"There was a chemical weapons attack" southwest of Arbil, a ministry spokesman told AFP, adding that some Kurdish fighters suffered respiratory problems while German military trainers were unhurt.

The chemical agent had been delivered with mortar or artillery shells, said the spokesman, who did not say who was suspected of carrying out the attack.

"American and Iraqi specialists from Baghdad are on their way to find out what happened," he added.

Germany has been supporting the Kurdish peshmerga fighters with arms shipments and weapons training since September to back the fight against ISISI, and currently has about 90 personnel on the ground.

"German soldiers were not affected or in danger," the spokesman said. "The protection of our soldiers in northern Iraq is already at the highest level."