Syria destroys 42 chemical bombs. This is the first time since 2014

Izumi Nakamitsu today told the UN Security Council that cooperation between the new Syrian authorities and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (WTO) has made significant progress in combating the remnants of the chemical weapons programme developed by the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, deposed in December 2024.

Following the deployment of the OPCW in May 2026 to the Syrian territory, which led to the discovery of previously undeclared chemical weapons, Syria submitted amendments to its initial inventory declaration and began to include an additional production facility, a chemical used in the manufacture of nerve agents, empty ammunition and two storage sites. 

Following that, the OPCW Executive Board approved a detailed plan for the verification of the destruction of chemical weapons, leading Syria to have the necessary approvals to initiate the destruction activities under the organisation’s verification, Nakamitsu explained.

“The OPCW found that the ‘stocks’ corresponded to the recent statements of the Syrian Arab Republic and confirmed the irreversible destruction of 42 air bombs. This relevant development means that, for the first time since 2014, the OPCW has verified the destruction of chemical ammunition from the Syrian Arab Republic,” the UN High Representative announced.

The OPCW Executive Board also restored the rights and privileges of Syria under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

However, Izumi Nakamitsu warned that the remaining outstanding issues are of serious concern, as they include potentially large amounts of chemical warfare agents and undeclared and/or unverified chemical ammunition.

Recalling the victims of the 2013 attacks in Ghouta - suburbs of Damascus - attributed to the Assad regime and which caused nearly 1,400 deaths, the UN High Representative urged the Security Council to unity, continued support, accountability for the use of chemical weapons and sustained efforts to maintain the global ban on these weapons.

At the same meeting of the UN Security Council, the Syrian ambassador to the UN, Ibrahim Olabi, described the beginning of the destruction of chemical materials in the country as an historic moment that demonstrates how diplomacy, determination and genuine political will can turn an ancient danger into a model of effective multilateral cooperation.

Olabi stated that Syria's cooperation reflects a broader political change towards accountability, accountability and compliance with international obligations.

The diplomat added that local security and the identification of ammunition protect not only Syria, but the whole region.

He warned, however, that repeated Israeli attacks obstructed search and destruction operations and endangered Syrian and international personnel.

Calling on the international community to ensure safe conditions for continuity of work, the representative of Damascus said that Syria inherited dangerous dossiers from the previous government and needs support to deal with them.

The United States, on the other hand, welcomed the progress of Syria and the OPCW in combating the remnants of the chemical weapons programme of the Assad regime and emphasized the need for complete and verified elimination of all traces identified. 

Furthermore, Russia accused the OPCW technical secretariat of politicising and prolonging the issue.

At the UN Security Council meeting, Moscow questioned whether the newly discovered materials could be attributed conclusively to the former Syrian authorities and recalled the use of chemical weapons by extremist groups, including Daesh (Arab acronym for the Islamic State terrorist group).