Syria Arrests Former Chemical Weapons Program Official

Syrian authorities have arrested Ahmed Habib Ali, a former official implicated in the country's chemical weapons program. The arrest took place in western Syria, according to the Interior Ministry.

Ali, who previously headed the Scientific Studies and Research Center, faces accusations of playing a significant role in Syria's development and deployment of chemical weapons. Specifically, he is alleged to be complicit in the use of the highly toxic nerve agent Sarin.

Initial investigations indicate that Ali was among the officers who supervised the production of around 20 bombs, each weighing 250 kilograms and filled with Sarin. These munitions were reportedly used in attacks on Syrian cities and towns between 2013 and 2017.

Nerve agents like Sarin are known to be lethal, causing death within seconds or minutes. The Syrian Civil War, which began in 2011, has seen numerous alleged chemical weapons attacks, including those involving Sarin and mustard gas. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has previously attributed Sarin and chlorine gas bombings to the Syrian air force, though the Syrian government has consistently denied these allegations.