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Syria begins destroying remnants of Bashar al-Assad's chemical weapons program for the first time in over a decade

Syria has begun the process of destroying the remnants of the chemical weapons program established under former President Bashar al-Assad. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has verified the destruction of 42 aerial bombs as part of this mission. This marks the first time since 2014 that the OPCW has verified the destruction of chemical munitions in Syria. Syria declared an additional chemical weapons production facility, a newly discovered chemical used for nerve agents, and empty chemical munitions. The country also declared two chemical weapons storage facilities where these newly discovered materials are being stored while awaiting destruction. The OPCW deployed a team to Syria to verify the mechanical destruction of 'Category three' chemical weapons, which include empty M4000 aerial bombs and Volcano rockets. The administration announced that the United States joined other members of the OPCW Executive Council in approving the decision to reinstate Syria’s rights and privileges under the Chemical Weapons Convention. These rights were suspended in 2021 due to the former regime's use of chemical weapons. Syria is also preparing to hold court hearings for 18 suspects allegedly involved in the chemical weapons program.

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