RUSSIA has issued another warning of an imminent chemical attack being planned by pseudo-humanitarian group the White Helmets to pave the way for intervention in Syria.

Moscow’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed on Thursday that the Western-backed group were working with jihadists in “preparing further provocations aimed at accusing the legitimate government in Syria of using poisonous substances.”

She warned the White Helmets, along with al-Nusra Front terrorists were plotting a chemical attack on Idlib province in Syria’s north-west, the last remaining part of the country held by jihadists.

Ms Zakharova said the attack was to be blamed on the Syrian Arab Army to pave the way for military intervention against President Bashar al-Assad whose forces have regained control of the majority of the country.

Russia’s Defence Ministry announced at the end of March it had received information that intelligence officers from France and Belgium met jihadist group leaders and representatives of the White Helmets to plan chemical attacks in Syria.

It claimed the attacks in Idlib would be blamed on the Syrian Arab Army and Russian jets.