U.S. captures top Islamic State chemical arms engineer

BAGHDAD — U.S. special forces captured the head of the Islamic State group’s unit trying to develop chemical weapons in a raid last month in northern Iraq, two senior Iraqi intelligence officials said, the first known major success of Washington’s more aggressive policy of pursuing the jihadists on the ground. The two Iraqi officials identified the man as Sleiman Daoud al-Afari, who worked for Saddam Hussein’s now-dissolved Military Industrialization Authority where he specialized in chemical and biological weapons. Speaking to reporters from a base outside the city of Tikrit, Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obaidi played down fears of the group's chemical weapons capabilities, saying the group lacks “chemical capabilities.” [...] special forces raids targeting chemical weapons experts are planned, the intelligence officials said.