The Syrian authorities have begun destroying chemical materials dating back to the era of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in the first operation of its kind in more than a decade, Damascus informed the Security Council. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed that it had verified the final destruction of 42 aerial bombs, while the United States called on the new authorities to continue cooperation, and Russia and China praised the progress achieved.

Published on: 04/09/2026 - 00:11

Syria informed the UN Security Council on Thursday that it had begun destroying chemical materials dating back to the era of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, in the first operation of its kind since the conflict era.

Syria's representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said, "This is the first destruction operation since our liberation from the previous regime," explaining that it is also "the first of its kind to destroy chemical materials on Syrian territory in more than a decade."

In 2021, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, based in The Hague, took an unprecedented decision to deprive Syria of its right to vote, after concluding that the Syrian Air Force had used sarin and chlorine gases against civilians.

The new Syrian authorities pledged to cooperate with the organization to destroy the chemical weapons that the former president had long been accused of using during the conflict.

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For her part, Izumi Nakamitsu, head of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, said that a team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons “verified last month the final destruction of 42 aerial bombs” carried out by the Syrian authorities.

She added, "This significant development means that, for the first time since 2014, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has verified the destruction of chemical munitions in Syria."

Protecting Syria, the region and the world from chemical weapons

Olabi stressed that “our goal is to protect the Syrian people so that these weapons do not fall into the wrong hands,” considering that these efforts also contribute to “protecting the world and the region.”

He continued, "Every site that is secured, and every ammunition that is identified, not only removes the danger from Syria, but from the entire world."

In 2013, Syria agreed to join the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and disclose and hand over its stock of toxic materials, under Russian and American pressure, and to avoid the threat of air strikes from Washington and its allies.

This came after the Syrian army was accused of using chemical weapons in areas that were under the control of opposition factions, killing more than 1,400 people, according to American intelligence services and human rights organizations. A UN report also indicated that there was conclusive evidence of the use of sarin gas.

The Syrian government under Assad denied responsibility for any similar attacks and agreed to hand over its chemical arsenal, but did not fully disclose its program and sought to mislead inspectors.

Russia and China praise the progress made in destroying chemical weapons in Syria

In the Security Council, the United States called on the new Syrian authorities to continue cooperation with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

US envoy Tammy Bruce said: “Our work to eliminate the Assad regime’s chemical weapons program and promote accountability is not only essential to international peace and security, but is also a way to honor the Syrian men, women and children whose lives have been lost.”

She added, "May their memory motivate us to move forward in our work for a Syria and a world free of chemical weapons."

China and Russia also praised Syria's progress in destroying materials linked to chemical weapons.

This announcement comes about two weeks after Damascus revealed that it had allowed a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect an undeclared site dating back to the era of the previous regime, which the agency’s director general, Rafael Grossi, said contained “a few tons” of nuclear materials.

France 24/AFP

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