Syria Initiates Destruction of Undisclosed Chemical Weapon Stockpiles

Syrian and United Nations officials have jointly announced the commencement of operations to dismantle remaining elements of the covert chemical weapons program established under the former Assad regime. These efforts focus on destroying illicit components that were previously undeclared.

Diplomats, speaking to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and reported by Al Jazeera, indicated that the materials slated for destruction include chemical weapon precursors and munitions similar to those implicated in the devastating gas attacks during Syria’s civil conflict.

Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, confirmed in her UNSC briefing that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has, for the first time since 2014, verified the destruction of chemical munitions within Syria. This follows the current Syrian administration’s discovery in May of previously unidentified vestiges of Assad’s chemical weapons initiative. Nakamitsu detailed these findings, which encompass an additional chemical weapon production facility, a newly located chemical substance critical for nerve agent synthesis, and numerous empty chemical munitions. She further noted that Syria subsequently declared two chemical weapon storage facilities designated for housing these newly identified components.

An OPCW team visited Syria last month specifically to oversee and confirm the destruction of “third category” chemical weapons, a classification that includes unfilled munitions and other specialized equipment designed for the dissemination of chemical agents. Nakamitsu reported that this mission successfully verified the “irreversible destruction of 42 aircraft bombs.”

Syrian Ambassador to the UN, Ibrahim Olabi, underscored the significance of these developments in his briefing, stating, “This represents the inaugural destruction operation undertaken since our liberation from the preceding regime. It also marks the first instance of such chemical substance destruction on Syrian territory in over a decade.” Olabi further affirmed to the council that Syria is “safeguarding the global and regional community through these crucial endeavors.” However, he also highlighted that persistent Israeli incursions have hindered certain search-and-destroy operations, posing significant risks to Syrian teams operating in the field.

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