Syria Initiates Destruction of Chemical Weapons Materials from Assad Era

Syria has begun the process of destroying remnants of its chemical weapons program, which was established during the presidency of Bashar al-Assad. This significant step was confirmed by both Syrian and United Nations officials, marking the first destruction of such materials in over ten years. The destruction includes raw materials and munitions that were similar to those used in deadly gas attacks throughout the ongoing civil war.

During a briefing at the United Nations Security Council, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu reported that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had verified the destruction of chemical munitions in Syria for the first time since 2014. In May, Syria's new leadership discovered remnants of the chemical weapons program, which included a newly identified chemical production facility and empty chemical munitions.

Nakamitsu noted that the OPCW had deployed a team to Syria last month to oversee the destruction of what are classified as 'category-three' chemical weapons, which consist of unfilled munitions and equipment used for chemical weapon deployment. The team verified the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs as part of this mission.

Syria's UN envoy, Ibrahim Olabi, emphasized the significance of this destruction process, stating that it is the first of its kind on Syrian territory in over a decade. He claimed that this action is a step towards protecting both the world and the region. However, he also highlighted that repeated Israeli attacks have hindered some operations, putting the safety of Syrian teams at risk.

Earlier this year, Syrian authorities arrested 18 individuals suspected of involvement in the chemical weapons program, including high-ranking military and political officials. Olabi mentioned that Syria is preparing to hold the first court hearing for those accused of participating in the chemical weapons program.