BEIRUT, Syria has begun destroying remnants of a secret chemical weapons program dating from the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad.
The move marks the first verified destruction of chemical munitions in Syria in about a decade, according to a UN official and a Syrian diplomat.
Syria’s new authorities recovered the materials earlier this year.
The discovery included chemical weapons-related materials and munitions linked to the former government’s weapons program.
UN Confirms Destruction of 42 Bombs
Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, told the Security Council that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had verified the destruction of chemical munitions in Syria.
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She said this was the first such verified destruction since 2014.
Nakamitsu said Syrian authorities had reported additional discoveries after the initial findings in May.
These included another chemical weapons production facility, a newly identified chemical used in the production of nerve agents and empty chemical munitions.
Syria also declared two storage facilities where the newly discovered materials had been kept.
OPCW Team Verifies Destruction
The OPCW sent a team to Syria last month to verify the destruction of Category 3 chemical weapons-related items.
These items include unfilled munitions and other equipment designed to release chemical agents.
The OPCW team verified the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs during its mission, Nakamitsu told the Security Council.
The development represents a significant step in efforts to dismantle Syria’s remaining chemical weapons infrastructure.
Syria Says It Is Protecting the Region
Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, told the Security Council that his country was taking the necessary steps to protect Syria and the wider region.
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He also accused Israel of repeatedly carrying out attacks that, he said, had disrupted some search and destruction operations.
Olabi said those attacks had also placed Syrian personnel involved in the operations at risk.
He argued that regional security could not be protected if Syrian teams faced attacks while carrying out chemical weapons-related work.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations.
Syria Preparing First Chemical Weapons Trial
Olabi also told the council that Syria was preparing for the first court hearing involving people suspected of taking part in the former chemical weapons program.
Syrian authorities detained 18 suspects earlier this year.
The suspects reportedly include former senior military, political and technical officials.
The arrests form part of the new Syrian authorities’ wider efforts to investigate the former government’s chemical weapons activities.
Assad-Era Program Under Investigation
The Syrian civil war saw several allegations of chemical weapons use against civilians.
The issue has remained a major international concern since the conflict began.
The latest discoveries have increased pressure on Syria’s new authorities to identify remaining chemical weapons materials and secure them.
The destruction verified by the OPCW could therefore mark an important new phase in international efforts to address Syria’s chemical weapons legacy.
Further inspections and destruction operations are expected as Syrian authorities continue their investigation.
