Syria begins destruction of Assad-era chemical weapons

chemical weapons destruction OPCW verification Assad regime remnants UN Security Council Syrian disarmament

Syria has commenced the destruction of chemical weapons materials and munitions left over from the clandestine programme of the former Bashar al-Assad regime. This marks the first such destruction process verified by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in Syria since 2014.

During a UN Security Council briefing, Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, confirmed that an OPCW team visited Syria in August to verify the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs. This follows the discovery in May of additional chemical weapons production facilities, a new nerve agent precursor, and undeclared storage sites.

Syrian UN envoy Ibrahim Olabi described the process as a 'historic moment' and a step toward reintegrating Syria into the international community. However, Olabi noted that Israeli military actions have occasionally hindered search and destruction operations, causing flight cancellations and endangering international inspection teams.

Entities

Bashar al-Assad · Ibrahim Olabi · Ibrahim Olambi · Izumi Nakamitsu · Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons · Syria · United Nations · United Nations Security Council

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 18 SOURCES] Syria has begun destroying remnants of a clandestine chemical weapons programme created under former President Bashar al-Assad. alfajertv.com · arabic.euronews.com · www.capital.gr · haitigazette.com · barbadosgazette.com · +13 more
[● 4 SOURCES] A chemical attack in Eastern Ghouta in August 2013 resulted in over 1,400 deaths. www.businessdaily.gr · arabic.euronews.com · www.capital.gr · www.sofokleousin.gr
[○ 1 SOURCE] The OPCW restored Syria's full membership rights in July following a 'fundamental change in circumstances' after the fall of the Assad regime. arabic.euronews.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Israeli military actions have caused the complete stoppage and cancellation of flights during certain stages of the process. alfajertv.com · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr · www.ilpost.it · www.cumhuriyet.com.tr
[● 3 SOURCES] The destruction process is being conducted under the verification procedures of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). alfajertv.com · www.q8news.com · www.bursahakimiyet.com.tr
[● 17 SOURCES] The OPCW verified the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs. haitigazette.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.aljazeera.com · horrya.net · jamaicainquirer.com · +12 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Authorities discovered an additional chemical weapons production facility, a new nerve agent precursor chemical, and empty munitions. haitigazette.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.aljazeera.com · horrya.net · jamaicainquirer.com · +8 more
[● 13 SOURCES] Syria's new leadership located remnants of the former Bashar al-Assad chemical weapons programme in May. haitigazette.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.aljazeera.com · horrya.net · jamaicainquirer.com · +8 more
[● 19 SOURCES] The OPCW has verified the destruction of chemical munitions in Syria for the first time since 2014. haitigazette.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.aljazeera.com · www.businessdaily.gr · horrya.net · +14 more
[● 19 SOURCES] Syria's UN envoy Ibrahim Olabi stated this is the first destruction process since the removal of the previous regime. haitigazette.com · barbadosgazette.com · www.aljazeera.com · www.businessdaily.gr · horrya.net · +14 more