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On December 9, 2024, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) expressed “serious concerns” about Syria’s chemical weapons program.
The OPCW reaffirmed its commitment to addressing gaps, inconsistencies, and discrepancies in Syria’s declaration regarding its chemical weapons program and its compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention, amidst the ongoing political transition.
The OPCW clarified that it is closely monitoring recent developments in Syria, with particular attention to sites associated with chemical weapons.
The organization also highlighted that “toxic” chemical substances were used as weapons in Syria, as investigations have been conducted by the OPCW Technical Secretariat and other international bodies over the past years.
The OPCW stated that the Technical Secretariat is monitoring the current situation in Syria, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding declared chemical weapons-related research, development, production, storage, and testing sites.
Additionally, the OPCW emphasized its ongoing surveillance of any movements, changes, or incidents involving materials or documents from these sites and the measures being implemented to ensure compliance with the convention under the current circumstances.
The OPCW Secretariat has engaged with the Syrian Embassy to stress the utmost importance of ensuring the safety and security of all materials and facilities associated with chemical weapons across all sites within Syrian territory.
The Secretariat affirmed its readiness to continue cooperation on these matters with relevant Syrian authorities and international partners.
Israeli Strikes on Sites Containing Chemical Weapons in Syria
The OPCW’s statement coincided with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar confirming strikes on sites suspected of containing chemical weapons.
Sa’ar stated that Israel targeted sites in Syria suspected of housing chemical weapons, long-range missiles, and shells on Sunday, aiming to prevent them from falling into the hands of “extremists,” as he described.
Syria’s Accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention
After the chemical weapon attack in rural Damascus in 2013, where sarin gas was proven to have been used, the UN placed the Syrian regime’s chemical arsenal under the control of the OPCW through Resolution 2118. By October 2013, the arsenal was confirmed destroyed, following Syria’s accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention in September.
Eleven years after the first chemical attack in Syria, UN member states assessed Syria’s cooperation with the OPCW on the chemical weapons dossier in June 2024, under Resolution 2118.
UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu criticized Syria for its lack of cooperation with the OPCW, while many UN Security Council members expressed concern that Syria’s declaration under the Chemical Weapons Convention remains incomplete. They emphasized the need to hold those responsible for chemical weapon use in Syria accountable to prevent future incidents.
Calls from the Chemical Violations Documentation Center of Syria (CVDCS)
The Chemical Violations Documentation Center of Syria (CVDCS ) calls for careful and responsible handling of sites previously targeted with chemical weapons by the Syrian regime, as well as sites suspected of housing research facilities and stockpiles of biological and chemical weapons. These locations are deemed critical for international investigations.
The center underscores the importance of securing these sites, including deploying professional security teams to protect them from potential interference that could compromise evidence. It also calls for coordination with relevant international institutions, particularly the OPCW and its teams focused on the Syrian file.
The center urges all parties to refrain from entering or photographing these sites, as such actions could undermine the credibility of international investigations.
Furthermore, it emphasizes the need to handle these sites in alignment with international obligations, noting that transparency and full cooperation with international teams reflect Syria’s commitment to effective reconstruction and achieving justice.
The Chemical Violations Documentation Center of Syria (CVDCS ) remains committed to documenting these crimes. It has recorded 262 chemical attacks resulting in 2,423 deaths and 13,947 injuries, most of them civilians, during the Syrian conflict. The center has also gathered evidence incriminating the perpetrators and continues its efforts to achieve justice for the victims and their families, ensuring these crimes do not go unpunished.
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