U.S. Urges OPCW to Seize Assad's Fall as Chance to Eliminate Syria's Chemical Weapons

Dec 13, 2024, 10:50 AM

The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime has presented the United States and global watchdogs with an opportunity to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons arsenal, which has been used extensively in the country's civil war. The U.S. sees this moment as a chance to rid Syria of these deadly weapons 'once and for all,' according to Nicole Shampaine, a senior U.S. official. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is expected to seek approval from its member states for funding and technical assistance to implement a comprehensive chemical nonproliferation process in Syria. Despite Syria's accession to the OPCW in 2013 and the subsequent destruction of over 1,300 metric tons of chemical agents on a U.S. ship, there are concerns about undeclared stockpiles and the potential misuse of remaining chemical weapons by various armed groups in the country. The OPCW has conducted 28 rounds of consultations with Assad's government, highlighting issues such as the use of sarin and chlorine barrel bombs.