Image source: PEO ACWA
On December 10, 2024, the U.S. Department of State called for the “safe” destruction of chemical weapons in Syria.
In a press conference, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the new Syrian government must ensure the secure handling and destruction of any stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, in a press briefing on December 10, 2024, emphasized that the responsibility for securing and destroying any chemical weapons found in areas under their control lies with those in power within Syria.
Miller confirmed that an emergency session of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been convened for the upcoming Thursday to address recent developments on the ground and the current situation in Syria.
He clarified that matters of inspection and verification fall under the jurisdiction of the OPCW, not any individual member state.
On December 9, 2024, the OPCW expressed “serious concerns” about Syria’s chemical weapons program, reiterating its commitment to clarifying discrepancies, contradictions, and gaps in Syria’s declaration regarding its chemical weapons program and its compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention amid the political transition process.
The organization noted that it continues to monitor any movements, changes, or incidents related to materials or documents from these sites and is observing measures being implemented to ensure compliance with the convention under the current circumstances.
The OPCW’s statement coincided with remarks by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who confirmed strikes on suspected chemical weapons sites.
Sa’ar stated that Israel had targeted locations in Syria suspected of housing chemical weapons, long-range missiles, and shells on Sunday to prevent them from falling into the hands of “extremists,” as he described them.
