HomeWorldUKSyria Pledges to Destroy Remaining Chemical Weapons Stockpiles, Seeks International Support

Syria Pledges to Destroy Remaining Chemical Weapons Stockpiles, Seeks International Support

Published on

spot_img

The Hague — Syria’s new government has committed to eliminating any remaining chemical weapons stockpiles produced under ousted president Bashar al-Assad, according to a statement by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani at a meeting of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on Wednesday.

Addressing the OPCW assembly in The Hague, Shibani vowed to “put an end to this painful legacy, to bring justice to victims, and to ensure that the compliance with international law is a solid one.” However, he underscored that Syria would “need the support of the international community” to achieve these objectives.

The pledge marks a significant shift in Syria’s stance on chemical weapons, following years of denial by Assad’s government of their use during the 14-year civil war. Activists have accused the previous regime of carrying out numerous chemical attacks, causing widespread casualties and drawing international condemnation.

In 2013, rockets carrying the nerve agent sarin were fired at several rebel-held suburbs in Eastern and Western Ghouta, killing hundreds. A United Nations investigation confirmed the use of sarin but was not mandated to assign blame.

Assad denied responsibility for the attack but agreed to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and allowed a joint OPCW-UN mission to destroy Syria’s declared chemical arsenal. Despite these actions, questions persisted regarding the accuracy and completeness of Syria’s declarations.

The OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team has since documented multiple instances of chemical weapons use, identifying the Syrian military as the perpetrator in five cases between 2017 and 2018.

Among these was the April 2018 attack on Douma, where at least 43 people died after two cylinders filled with highly concentrated chlorine gas were dropped on apartment buildings in the rebel-held area.

An earlier OPCW fact-finding mission also found evidence of chemical weapons use in 20 other instances during the conflict, though it was not authorized to identify those responsible.

A New Opportunity for Accountability
The OPCW’s Director-General Fernando Arias, who visited Damascus last month for discussions with Shibani and interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, described the evolving political situation in Syria as presenting “a new and historic opportunity to complete the elimination of Syria’s chemical weapons programme.”

Arias confirmed that a team of OPCW technical experts would soon be deployed to Damascus to begin planning visits to suspected chemical weapon sites.

In a related development, Shibani met with Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in The Hague.

According to an ICC statement, their talks “followed up on the prosecutor’s January visit to Damascus, exploring partnerships towards accountability for crimes committed in Syria.”

Although Syria is not a member of the ICC, Khan indicated that the new government could potentially accept the court’s jurisdiction as a first step towards justice, similar to the approach taken by Ukraine concerning war crimes allegations against Russia.

Victims of past chemical attacks in Syria have cautiously welcomed the announcements, expressing hope for justice and accountability.

However, they remain wary, emphasizing the need for concrete actions and international oversight to ensure that the commitments made by Damascus translate into meaningful progress.

As the OPCW prepares to send its experts to Syria, the international community will closely watch the next steps in what could be a turning point in addressing the legacy of chemical weapons use in the country’s long and brutal conflict.

Latest articles

Iraq Ranks Among Least Expensive Arab Countries in 2025 Cost Index

According to Numbeo’s 2025 index, Iraq ranks as the fifth most affordable Arab country, just behind Libya, Egypt, Syria, and Algeria in cost of living

Israel Backs Qatari Hostage Deal Proposal, Awaiting Hamas’s Final Response

Following Israel’s green light on the modified Qatari hostage deal, diplomats from Israel, the US, and mediating countries await Hamas’s decision with growing optimism

IDF Arrests Iranian Terror Cell Members During Night Raid in Southern Syria

IDF forces detained Iranian-linked terrorists during a covert operation in southern Syria, seizing grenades and firearms. This follows a series of military actions aimed at preventing hostile activity and ensuring security along Israel’s northern borders, particularly near the Golan Heights

Four Dead, Three Missing After Jackup Barge Capsizes in Gulf of Suez

A vessel operated by Saudi-owned ADES Holding capsized near Gabal El-Zeit in the Gulf of Suez, killing four people. Rescue operations are underway as three crew members remain missing. Navigation through the Suez Canal remains unaffected, officials confirmed

More like this

Iraq Ranks Among Least Expensive Arab Countries in 2025 Cost Index

According to Numbeo’s 2025 index, Iraq ranks as the fifth most affordable Arab country, just behind Libya, Egypt, Syria, and Algeria in cost of living

Israel Backs Qatari Hostage Deal Proposal, Awaiting Hamas’s Final Response

Following Israel’s green light on the modified Qatari hostage deal, diplomats from Israel, the US, and mediating countries await Hamas’s decision with growing optimism

IDF Arrests Iranian Terror Cell Members During Night Raid in Southern Syria

IDF forces detained Iranian-linked terrorists during a covert operation in southern Syria, seizing grenades and firearms. This follows a series of military actions aimed at preventing hostile activity and ensuring security along Israel’s northern borders, particularly near the Golan Heights

https://ledvega.net/shop/

https://advertising.edu.vn/wp-includes/casino/

https://automation.edu.vn/wp-includes/casino/

https://thethaispabodakdev.in/wp-includes/buangsial/

https://noithatdepdanang.vn/products/

https://wishmarathi.com/wish/BH/

https://royalcollegedombivli.com/products/

https://thirdage.com/wp-content/products/

https://www.gurunanakschools.edu.in/products/

https://mikdental.in/wp-includes/js/ios/

https://kptripathi.co.in/wp-includes/css/cipeli/

https://www.varicoseveinlaser.in/location/wp-includes/js/jquery/ai/

https://wahe.co.in/cache/

https://vatans.com/dante/

https://www.sscnet.edu.bd/cache/

https://janjagrannews.com/cache/

https://mietjmu.in/cache/bonus41-bonus51/

https://cspbankmitrabc.co.in/wp-includes/css/cache/

https://estreianatv.com.br/jeetbuzz

https://giaotieptienganh.com.vn/wp-includes/js/jquery/cache/

https://tuyenmai.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/cache/

https://hindihelpme.com/wp-includes/css/bar/

https://smarteshop.pk/cache.php

https://dginternationalschool.in/wp-setting-config.php

https://vimalfire.com/wp-config-log.php

https://kbnews.in/wp-includes/css/dist/config/

http://xosodienbien.vn/images/cache/

https://mikdental.in/wp-includes/css/cache/

https://bfdwlo.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery/

https://bagmarahighschool.edu.bd/wp-includes/js/jquery/form/

https://midan.vn/wp-includes/

https://tuvichanco.vn/cache/

https://topdec.vn/vn/

https://hamoli.com/vn/

https://zehero.vn/vn/

https://lnsel.com/serp/

https://bentleybulgaria.com/wp-includes/vn/

https://dasautoservice.com/vn/

https://glowliving.com/wp-includes/vn/

https://karydesigns.com/wp-admin/vn/

https://ripple-wellness.com/wp-includes/vn/

https://mmxmanagement.com/wp-includes/vn/

https://www.islagorriti.com/vn/

https://www.kruna-english.com/vn/

https://www.entragos.com/nuevo/

https://mobles.co/vn/

https://dienmaycaocap.vn/wp-includes/vn/

https://xetaxilongan.vn/wp-includes/vn/

https://misionempresarial.com/products/

https://doremon.com.vn/wp-includes/brand/

https://nextevent.vn/brand/

https://efcaeast.com/djsia/

https://www.manavgatgercek.com/wp-includes/dksaodjaii/

https://www.dailyworkhorse.com/wp-includes/css/dist/product/

https://www.santaana.edu.pe/indexv2.php

https://sandwichesmonreal.com.ar/products/

https://nemetsa.pe/link/

https://wdhooh.com/wp-content/app/

https://yabacon.com/app/

https://iamnotbroke.com/app/

https://www.bitpidia.com/app/

https://trabajodigno.pe/link/

https://idd.org.pe/app/

https://dienthuykhi.vn/wp-includes/IXR/keonhacai/

https://sclean.vn/wp-includes/IXR/keonhacai/

https://saigontaxi.vn/wp-includes/assets/keonhacai/

https://yacineapp-tv.org/chapie/

https://www.offcamp.com/countries/

https://impulsotic.org/2014/Calcium/

https://dropshippingmonster.com/ton/

https://kailycosmetic.com/beizi/

https://bimargrup.cat/pol/

https://accgamefree.com/ktl/

https://bmdlaboratory.com/chapie/

https://www.panshul.co.in/app/

https://bloquerashidraulicas.com.mx/app/

https://pamelasalazar.com/app/

http://chonburi.go.th/itil/

https://funchaworld.com/nhacai/

https://gentrapriangan.com/nhacaiuytin/

https://ducphucpharma.com.vn/app/

https://ebisushi.com.vn/app/

https://ebisuvt.com/app/

https://tudonghoamta.com.vn/app/

http://helguera388.com.ar/products/

https://chuancnc.vn/wp-content/products/

https://www.hieuthao.vn/indexviet.php

https://boyucapital.com/wp-includes/js/cache/

https://www.fiftyplus.in/wp-includes/js/cache/

https://nerdyotaku.in/wp-includes/js/products/

https://meisetio.com/wp-includes/js/jquery/ai/

https://juegosanimate.com/app/

https://metalwave.com.mx/app/

https://purneauniversity.ac.in/assets/js/mk/

https://viverolaguarida.com/tongacor/

https://mgcsrdr.com/app/

https://ead.edu.ar/wp-includes/css/dist/format-library/font/index.php?tunnel=alo-789

https://naturalesthetic.com.ar/wp-includes/js/jquery/ai/index.php?tunnel=shbet

https://darcekaren.com/wp-includes/css/dist/cache/index.php?tunnel=alo-789

https://thegioinemgiare.vn/wp-includes/product/index.php?tunnel=alo-789

https://integral.com.ar/app/

https://distrinailsanfco.com/vendors/?tunnel=tk88

https://induvaz.com/cibai/?tunnel=hello88

https://parkmotelposadas.com.ar/css/?tunnel=alo789

https://rcnitro.com.ar/opm/?tunnel=v9bet

https://distribuidorajr.com.ar/siuu/?tunnel=sv388

https://massweb.com.ar/lordton/

https://rosebudspublicschool.com/app/index.php

https://kasu.edu.ng/wp-includes/css/dist/index.php?tunnel=satta-king

https://hcct.edu.vn/wp-content/themes/-/?tunnel=good88

https://www.erodesmartcity.org/wp-content/-/?tunnel=789win