Syria Commits to Destroy Remaining Chemical Weapons Amid Historic OPCW Visit

On Wednesday, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani visited the headquarters of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), pledging his country's commitment to eliminate any chemical weapons remnants left from the era of former President Bashar Assad. This significant visit occurred just one month after OPCW's director, Fernando Arias, had traveled to Damascus for initial discussions with Syria's new leaders—a notable first engagement since Bashar Assad's ouster.

Addressing the OPCW executive council, al-Shibani emphasized the determination of Syria’s new leadership to dismantle any remaining chemical weapon capabilities established under the Assad government. He described this initiative as essential for closing a painful chapter in Syria's recent history, ensuring justice for victims, and reaffirming Syria’s adherence to international law. Nonetheless, he highlighted that achieving this goal would require assistance from the international community and the OPCW itself.

The OPCW previously found convincing evidence indicating that Assad’s regime repeatedly employed chemical weapons throughout the Syrian Civil War, which has continued for nearly 14 years. Syria originally joined the OPCW back in 2013, driven by international pressure following a chemical attack near Damascus. Despite accusations and evidence, former President Assad consistently denied responsibility for chemical weapon usage. In addition, the OPCW had previously uncovered instances in which the militant group Islamic State had used mustard gas during its assaults in Syria.

Fernando Arias affirmed the OPCW's preparedness to support Syria’s new authorities in fully meeting their obligations defined by the Chemical Weapons Convention. Arias shared that OPCW experts would be traveling to Damascus soon. Their mission would focus on establishing a permanent presence, arranging visits to suspected chemical weapons locations, and helping Syria identify and secure sites, weapons agents, precursors, equipment, and related munitions. Arias expressed the urgency and priority being given to accurately cataloging and potentially destroying these remaining chemical weapon elements.

Additionally, Foreign Minister al-Shibani took the opportunity during his visit to The Hague to meet with International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan. Although Syria is not officially an ICC member, cooperation can still occur to support national efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for war crimes committed during the brutal conflict.