Syria's new government controls over 100 chemical weapons sites
- The new Islamist regime in Syria has taken control of significant chemical weapons facilities left by the previous regime.
- Reports state that over 100 chemical weapons sites remain operational despite military actions aimed at their destruction.
- Concerns about chemical weapons under the new government highlight ongoing regional security threats.
Syria has been in a prolonged state of conflict since the start of the civil war, which has led to significant power shifts within the government. When President Bashar Assad was overthrown, his regime's chemical weapons facilities were reportedly inherited by the newly established Islamist government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa. According to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), these sites, maintained by the Assad regime, remain operational despite numerous military strikes aimed at dismantling such capabilities. In previous years, the Assad regime had taken steps to declare the extent of its chemical weapons arsenal and to shut down some sites. However, their cooperation with international oversight bodies was inconsistent at best, and there are indications that the regime continued to possess and even deploy chemical weapons until at least 2018. In a surprising development, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani made a visit to the OPCW's headquarters, expressing the new government's commitment to eliminate remnants of the chemical weapons program established by the previous regime. Despite these declarations, experts have responded with skepticism. Reports indicate that the ongoing conflict and the remnants of misinformation from Assad's government complicate efforts to accurately account for the number and status of chemical weapons sites. Raed al-Saleh, head of the Syria Civil Defense organization, pointed out that misinformation during the Assad years has obscured many locations where chemical weapons might still be stored. Overall, the situation poses grave concerns for both regional and international security, as the presence of active chemical weapons facilities under an Islamist regime raises fears of potential future uses. The implications of these developments are yet to be fully understood as international bodies continue to assess the risk and push for transparency regarding Syria's chemical weapon capabilities.