Syria begins destroying Assad-era chemical weapons as inspectors verify 42 bombs

Verified destruction of chemical munitions

Syria has started eliminating remnants of the chemical weapons program established under former president Bashar al-Assad, who was deposed in December 2024. UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu briefed the UN Security Council on 3 September 2026, confirming that inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) verified the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs. This operation is the first time since 2014 that international inspectors have verified the elimination of chemical munitions on Syrian territory. Syrian UN Ambassador Ibrahim Olabi informed the council that the operation constitutes the first destruction process since the transition of power. Nakamitsu described the verified disposal as a significant development, while urging international partners to maintain vigilance over remaining stockpiles.

Discovery of undeclared facilities and materials

The current elimination effort follows an OPCW inspection mission deployed to Syrian territory in May 2026, which located undeclared chemical assets left behind by the prior administration. Following those technical findings, Syrian authorities submitted formal amendments to their initial declaration of inventory. The revised documentation listed an additional production site, two storage facilities, empty munitions, and a previously undisclosed chemical compound used in the manufacturing of nerve agents. Despite earlier assertions by the Assad government that its entire chemical arsenal had been surrendered, international inspectors documented that the previous administration withheld materials and deceived monitors.

Speaking before the UN Security Council, Syria's permanent representative explained the purpose of eliminating the remaining military assets.

Our goal is to protect the Syrian people so that such weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.

International oversight and convention status

International oversight of Syrian chemical disarmament expanded after the 21 August 2013 attack on the Damascus suburb of Ghouta, where United States intelligence assessments reported that toxic gas killed more than 1,400 people. Although Damascus subsequently joined the Chemical Weapons Convention under pressure from Washington and Moscow, joint United Nations and OPCW investigations confirmed that government forces continued deploying sarin, chlorine, and mustard gas across multiple combat zones. In 2021, the OPCW Executive Council took the step of revoking Syria's voting rights and convention privileges after attributing chemical attacks to the Syrian air force. The organisation reinstated Syria's full status in July 2026 after the new administration pledged comprehensive cooperation with international monitors.

Judicial proceedings and nuclear findings

Syrian authorities have initiated legal proceedings alongside the disarmament process, targeting individuals implicated in the former chemical weapons enterprise. Law enforcement officials have arrested 18 suspects during 2026, including senior political, military, and technical figures from the prior regime. Damascus has also authorized OPCW inspectors to establish a permanent presence in the country to examine suspected locations and interview witnesses of past chemical strikes. In parallel, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi issued a report in Vienna detailing the recovery of 73 tonnes of undeclared uranium from the Assad era, including roughly 55 tonnes of fuel rods intended for a secret reactor project. Nakamitsu concluded her briefing by warning that potentially large quantities of unverified chemical warfare agents and munitions remain unaccounted for across Syrian territory.