The Assad administration faced allegations of employing chemical weapons, including sarin gas and chlorine, against opposition leaders and combatants. Following an agreement between the United States and Russia, which was established after the sarin gas attack in Ghouta in August 2013, the existence of 27 chemical weapons sites in Syria was disclosed.
A recent report has indicated the existence of over 100 suspected chemical weapons sites in Syria, significantly exceeding the number acknowledged by the ousted regime of Bashar al-Assad.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) provided this updated estimate after the current government permitted inspections and documentation efforts. The OPCW stated that this figure was derived from external researchers, non-profit organizations, and intelligence shared by member states.
According to a report by The New York Times, former OPCW employees noted that many of these sites may be hidden within caves or situated in remote areas, making them challenging to detect via satellite imagery.
Accusations against the Assad regime
The Assad regime has faced allegations of deploying chemical weapons, including sarin gas and chlorine, against opposition leaders and combatants. Following a deal between the United States and Russia, which was established after the Ghouta sarin gas attack in August 2013, the regime disclosed the existence of 27 chemical weapons sites in Syria.
Subsequent to these disclosures, OPCW inspectors visited the identified sites and ordered their closure.
Nevertheless, accusations regarding the use of chemical weapons persisted until at least 2018, when the Assad regime was implicated in the Douma massacre, resulting in the deaths of at least 49 individuals.
“There are numerous sites we remain unaware of because the previous regime deceived the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons,” stated Raed al-Saleh, the former head of the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets) and currently the Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management in the new government, as quoted by the OPCW.
Background
An anonymous former Syrian government chemist disclosed to The New York Times that Syria’s chemical weapons program has its origins in the 1970s. He explained that it was developed with the assistance of hundreds of scientists, many of whom had studied in Germany and other European nations. While a significant number of these scientists fled during the conflict, some opted to remain.
Currently, the newly established Syrian government asserts its collaboration with the OPCW and expresses its commitment to upholding international law. Nevertheless, apprehensions persist. Chemical substances continue to exist within the nation, and without adequate safeguards, there is a risk they may fall into the possession of militant factions. Additionally, the absence of a permanent ambassador to the OPCW has intensified skepticism regarding the government’s genuine motives.
In spite of these issues, Syria made progress on February 8, as interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa received an OPCW delegation headed by Director-General Fernando Arias in Damascus.
