Concerns Grow Over Syria's Chemical Weapons Stockpile Amid Ongoing Conflict

A mural painted on a bombed building in Idlib symbolizes the chemical attack on Ghouta, Damascus. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has raised serious concerns regarding significant gaps in Syria's declaration of its chemical weapons stockpile, indicating that substantial amounts of banned materials may still exist within the country. This revelation comes as Syria continues to grapple with the aftermath of its ongoing civil war, which began in 2011 following the regime's violent suppression of peaceful protests. The OPCW's Director-General, Fernando Arias, highlighted that despite over a decade of efforts, the chemical weapons issue in Syria remains unresolved. Since 2014, the OPCW has identified 26 outstanding issues related to Syria's chemical weapons, of which only seven have been addressed. The remaining 19 issues are particularly alarming, as they involve large quantities of chemical agents or munitions that may not have been declared or verified. Furthermore, Syria's voting rights at the OPCW were suspended in 2021 due to its involvement in poison gas attacks on civilians, a move that underscores the international community's frustration with the regime's lack of transparency. In a 2022 report, the OPCW attributed a chlorine gas attack in 2018, which resulted in 43 fatalities, directly to the Syrian government, a claim that Damascus has vehemently denied, insisting that it has complied with international disarmament agreements. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over half a million deaths and has displaced millions, leading to widespread devastation of the nation's economy and infrastructure.