Syria’s transitional leadership has found the remains of former President Bashar al-Assad’s secret chemical weapons program, including raw materials and munitions similar to those used in deadly gas attacks during the country’s civil war.Reuters quoted Muhammad Kattoub, Syria’s permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, as saying on Tuesday that the authorities had also arrested 18 suspects allegedly linked to the program.Those detained reportedly include senior military, political and technical officials linked to the Assad-era chemical weapons network.This discovery represents one of the clearest indications yet that remnants of the Syrian chemical arsenal may still exist after the collapse of the Assad government and the ongoing political transition in the country.
Concerns about remaining stocks
The issue of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile has been under international scrutiny since Damascus joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013 after allegations that Assad’s government used chemicals during the civil war.According to the Arms Control Association, international experts and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have intensified monitoring efforts since Assad’s ouster amid concerns that chemicals could be lost, hidden or destroyed during military strikes and political unrest.
OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias had previously warned that air strikes targeting Syrian military facilities after the fall of Assad could create a “risk of contamination” and potentially destroy evidence linked to chemical weapons investigations.The United States also expressed concern about the fate of chemical stockpiles remaining in Syria after Assad fled the country.Former US Deputy National Security Advisor John Feiner said that Washington is prioritizing efforts to locate, secure and destroy any remaining chemical weapons materials in coordination with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and regional partners.
Long-standing accusations against the Assad government
For more than a decade, the OPCW has repeatedly accused Syria of failing to fully disclose details of its chemical weapons program.International investigators had pointed out that there were “gaps, inconsistencies and inconsistencies” in Syria’s statements regarding its chemical stockpiles and activities.The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons had previously concluded that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that the Syrian army used chemical weapons in the 2018 Douma attack.Several other alleged chemical attacks were reported during the 2013-2024 Syrian Civil War, although responsibility in some cases remains disputed.Katoub’s statements now indicate that the Syrian transitional authorities are trying to uncover and dismantle what remains of the former regime’s chemical weapons infrastructure, while also seeking legal action against officials allegedly involved in the program.
