Syria Commits to Elimination of Assad-Era Chemical Weapons, Seeking Global Support

Syria's new leadership has expressed a strong commitment to eradicating any remaining chemical weapons linked to Bashar al-Assad, highlighting the need for global cooperation. The call comes amidst historical allegations of chemical attacks during the civil war, with the OPCW pledging support to complete this disarmament effort.

Syria's foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, has pledged to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) that the new government aims to eliminate any leftover stockpiles of chemical weapons produced during the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad. Speaking at the OPCW meeting in The Hague, Shibani emphasized the importance of "putting an end to this painful legacy," ensuring justice for victims, and adhering to international law standards. He requested support from the international community to fulfill these goals.

Throughout the protracted civil conflict, Assad's government has historically denied allegations of using chemical weapons, despite numerous accusations from activists citing multiple attacks. One of the most notorious incidents occurred in 2013 when sarin gas rockets were fired at opposition-controlled suburbs in Eastern and Western Ghouta, leading to hundreds of casualties. Although United Nations experts confirmed the deployment of sarin, no party was attributed blame at that time.

Following these events, Assad's government signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and permitted a joint OPCW-UN mission to destroy Syria's declared chemical armaments. Nonetheless, doubts persist regarding the full accuracy and completeness of Syria's weapons declaration. Reports from the OPCW's Investigation and Identification Team identified instances of chemical weapon usage by the Syrian military in 2017 and 2018, including the devastating April 2018 attack on Douma, where chlorine gas was released, leading to at least 43 deaths.

Last month, OPCW director general Fernando Arias visited Damascus to discuss ongoing efforts with Shibani and interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who previously led operations against Assad’s regime. During the latest meeting, Arias noted that the current shifting political dynamics in Syria present a vital and historic opportunity for the global community to finalize the dismantling of Syria's chemical armament program, announcing plans for the deployment of OPCW technical experts to suspected chemical weapon sites.

Shibani further conferred with International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan in The Hague, following up on Khan's earlier trip to Damascus in January. Although Syria is not a member of the ICC, Khan mentioned the possibility of the new government accepting the court's jurisdiction for accountability regarding crimes committed during the conflict, as exemplified by Ukraine's approach to its war with Russia.