Syria: Dozens of Undeclared Chemical Weapons Found After Assad's Fall

Syria has been found to possess numerous undeclared chemical weapons stockpiles, according to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). In May, OPCW experts, working alongside Syrian authorities, uncovered dozens of chemical munitions at multiple sites.

These discoveries were made in areas such as Hama, Homs, and Latakia, which were strongholds of the former government led by Bashar al-Assad. The findings include munitions similar to those used in chemical attacks in Ghouta in 2013, and in Ltamenah and Khan Sheikhoun in 2017. Inspectors also found chemicals, equipment, and thousands of pages of documents pertaining to Syria's past chemical weapons program.

OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias stated that the results corroborate the organization's previous assessments that the former Syrian leadership withheld information about the extent of its chemical weapons program. Following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, the new Syrian leadership had pledged to dismantle remaining chemical weapon stockpiles and hold those responsible accountable.

Syrian authorities reported the arrest of 18 individuals linked to the former government's chemical weapons program. These individuals include high-ranking officers, former experts, and members of the security apparatus, according to the state news agency Sana.

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The results confirm earlier assessments by the organization that the then-Syrian leadership withheld information about the extent of its chemical weapons program.