NEW YORK – Russia is urging the Washington and its Western allies to reconsider the stance against Syria’s embattled President Bashar al-Assad, arguing that the regime should be considered a partner in the fight against the Islamic State.Diplomats from the US and Europe, however, insist that the Assad regime is the reason for the ongoing war in Syria.

To boost its case, Russia’s ambassador to the UN told Rudaw his country is urging the United Nations to investigate the use of chemical weapon against Peshmerga forces and Iraqi forces as they did in Syria.

Russia has argued that the use of chemical weapons, such as mustard gas, proves that ISIS is a serious threat and must be stopped, even with the help of the Assad’s government forces.