Syria to dismantle Assad regime's chemical weapons legacy 13 years after deadly attack

Syria is embarking on a new phase to dismantle the chemical weapons legacy of the former Assad regime, thirteen years after the deadly sarin gas attack on Ghouta. The Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, announced that the country is initiating "necessary technical and operational measures to eliminate them in cooperation with international partners."

This move signals a significant shift towards cooperation with international investigators and renewed efforts to hold those responsible accountable. The announcement aligns with Syria's broader strategy to rebuild relations with Western countries following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. It represents a clear effort by the new authorities in Damascus to differentiate themselves from the decades-long rule of the Assad family.

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Tomorrow, the Syrian Arab Republic begins a new phase in addressing the burden of these weapons, as we have initiated the necessary technical and operational measures to eliminate them in cooperation with international partners.

The Ghouta attack on August 21, 2013, remains a stark symbol of the Syrian Civil War's brutality. Rockets carrying sarin nerve agent struck rebel-held areas outside Damascus, killing over 1,400 civilians and poisoning thousands more. Images of the aftermath, showing children and adults suffering from chemical exposure, shocked the world and highlighted the regime's use of chemical weapons.

Despite the evidence, the Assad regime consistently denied responsibility, fueling conspiracy theories. The international community, including the US and UK, ultimately refrained from airstrikes, a decision that some argue allowed the conflict to continue, leading to hundreds of thousands more deaths. The current government's initiative to address the chemical weapons issue is seen as a critical step in its post-conflict rebuilding and international reintegration.

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The Ghouta attack became a key moment in the Syrian conflict. Images of families dying in their homes, children gasping for air, and overwhelmed hospitals circulated around the world. The attack showed the regime would use chemical weapons. It also gave the world a chance to stop the regime. However, the US, UK, and others held back from airstrikes. Hundreds of thousands more people would be killed in the war.