UN Reports Ongoing Progress Toward Eliminating Syria’s Chemical Weapons Remnants

The United Nations has confirmed continuous progress in international efforts to eliminate the remnants of Syria’s chemical weapons program, in what officials describe as a constructive step toward full compliance with global disarmament norms. 

In a briefing to the UN Security Council, a senior UN disarmament official highlighted positive signals from Syria’s new authorities about renewed cooperation with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This engagement marks an important shift in handling a legacy that stretches back more than a decade. 

The official explained that cooperation began over ten years ago after the nerve agent sarin attack in the outskirts of Damascus, which killed hundreds and prompted the Security Council to adopt Resolution 2118 in 2013. That resolution called for the rapid implementation of measures outlined by the OPCW to eliminate Syria’s chemical warfare capabilities. 

However, challenges have persisted. Since 2014, the OPCW technical secretariat could not verify that the declaration submitted by the previous Syrian government was complete or accurate, raising concerns about undeclared stocks of chemical agents and munitions. Current efforts aim to clarify the full scope of materials and facilities connected to the former program. 

According to the latest technical reports, alongside the 26 officially declared sites, there is credible indication of more than 100 additional locations potentially linked to the program. Teams have already inspected 19 sites and have collected samples, interviewed experts, and gathered thousands of documents to advance the verification process. 

UN disarmament officials emphasized that the OPCW’s continued presence in Syria is crucial to the mission’s success, while noting that substantial international support remains essential to ensure that all chemical weapons remnants are identified and destroyed.