Published on: 2026-06-04
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Significant stockpiles of previously undeclared chemical weapons were discovered in Syria – including missiles of the same type used in the widely known attack in Ghouta in 2013. UN disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu called this a “major breakthrough”.
On Thursday, the Security Council informed about the withdrawal of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which operates with the support of the UN. A group of OPCW specialists visited Syria in May. Inspectors discovered previously undeclared chemical munitions, associated materials, and extensive documentation.
“These conclusions are the most important discovery not only for Syria, but also for international security and the global disarmament regime,” Nakamicu said.
Access to all facilities
Since 2014, the OPCW has not been able to confirm whether the Syrian declaration submitted by the government of former President Bashar al-Assad is accurate and complete.
According to Nakamitsu, the new government led by President Al-Sharaa closely cooperated with inspectors, facilitating access to facilities and providing documentation, which made this breakthrough possible.
She emphasized that the discovered weapons must now be officially declared and destroyed under OPCW control. Further inspections of additional sites are also necessary.
Ahead is hard work
Speaking at the Security Council meeting, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ibrahim Othman called the discovery of weapons a “decisive turning point” and a “major step forward in ensuring accountability.” The diplomat noted that his government facilitated 32 visits by OPCW inspectors and handed over more than 60,000 pages of documents.
“Syria has suffered from chemical weapons for more than 12 years,” he said. “Today, it is fully determined to get rid of its legacy.”
The UK representative Jennifer Maknotan stated that the new findings “provide additional evidence of Assad’s active attempts to deceive the international community.” The US Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Tammy Bruce, noted that Syria and the OPCW demonstrated “flexibility and overall commitment” to closing this chapter.
France’s permanent representative Jerome Bonnafon, however, warned that the recent statement “is only beginning to reveal the scale of the program that was hidden from the international community.” Meanwhile, Denmark’s deputy permanent representative Sandra Jensen Landi cautioned that “the upcoming task remains difficult,” pointing to the complicated security situation.
Russia expresses skepticism
Not all members of the Council welcomed the news. Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, questioned the speed with which the OPCW is striving to “place the blame on the former government,” and called for a “depoliticized approach strictly within the provisions of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.” He emphasized the “lack of trust in the OPCW, which has repeatedly and long ago compromised itself.”
In turn, the Turkish representative Ahmet Yildiz stated that the data from the disclosures became a “stern reminder of the scale of repression and suffering inflicted on the Syrian people by the previous regime,” and called for the restoration of Syria’s rights and privileges under the Chemical Weapons Convention, which were suspended in 2021.
Please note; This information is raw content received directly from the information source. It represents an exact report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.