3 hrs ago
Syria Begins Destroying Remnants of Assad Chemical Weapons Program
Syria says it has started destroying chemical weapons left from the government of Bashar al-Assad.
These weapons and related materials were found earlier in the year.
An international chemical-weapons organization checked some of the destruction.
It confirmed that 42 aerial bombs were destroyed so they could not be used again.
Inspectors also found another facility, a chemical used to make nerve agents and empty munitions.
Syria’s ambassador said Israeli attacks made the work more dangerous and harder to complete.
Israel had not responded to the claim when the report was published.
Syria has arrested 18 people suspected of helping the former chemical-weapons program.
Officials are preparing for the first court hearing in those cases.
Syria has begun destroying remnants of Bashar al-Assad’s clandestine chemical weapons program recovered in May.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons verified the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs.
Inspectors also identified a production facility, a previously undiscovered nerve-agent chemical and empty chemical munitions.
Syria’s ambassador said Israeli attacks had hindered searches and endangered Syrian personnel, while Israel did not immediately comment.
Syrian authorities detained 18 suspects and are preparing the first court hearing related to the weapons program.
- Who
- Syria’s new authorities, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, the United Nations and 18 suspects linked to the former program.
- What
- Syria has begun destroying remnants of the Assad-era chemical weapons program, with international verification of 42 aerial bombs.
- Where
- Syria; the announcement was discussed at a United Nations Security Council briefing.
- When
- The destruction was reported on September 3, following findings in May and an OPCW verification mission the previous month.
- Why
- To destroy recovered chemical weapons and related materials and address the remnants of the former program.
Syria’s account
Israel’s position
Effect of Israeli attacks
Syria’s account
Syria’s ambassador, Ibrahim Olabi, said repeated Israeli attacks had hindered searches and destruction efforts and exposed Syrian personnel to danger.
Israel’s position
Israel had not immediately responded to a request for comment, so no Israeli position was provided in the report.
Regional security
Syria’s account
Syria said its destruction work was protecting the region and argued that regional security could not be maintained while Syria itself was exposed to attacks.
Israel’s position
The report provides no response from Israel addressing Syria’s claims about regional security.
Key facts
- Verified destruction
- The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons verified the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs.
- Additional findings
- Syria reported one additional production facility, a newly discovered chemical used to produce nerve agents and empty chemical munitions.
- Storage facilities
- Two chemical-weapons storage facilities containing the newly discovered materials were declared.
- Suspects detained
- Syrian authorities earlier this year detained 18 people suspected of involvement in the program.
- Legal proceedings
- Syria is preparing the first court hearing for people suspected of involvement.
- International verification
- The OPCW deployed a team last month to verify the destruction of category-three chemical weapons.
- Reported obstruction
- Syria’s ambassador said repeated Israeli attacks impeded some search and destruction operations and endangered Syrian teams.
Quotes
Ibrahim Olabi
Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations
“We cannot safeguard the security of the region if our security is exposed to attacks at the hands of Israel, and they are flouting the security of the region at large and they are breaching the conventions and treaties we have talked about.”
theprint.in
“protecting the world and the region through such work”
theprint.in
Sources
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