The United Nations disarmament Chief told the Security Council today that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has verified the destruction of 42 aerial bombs declared by Syria as part of its chemical weapons programme, marking the first time since 2014 that the watchdog has confirmed the destruction of Syrian chemical munitions.
The milestone follows June 2026 amendments by Damascus to its initial disclosure, revealing a previously undeclared chemical-weapons production facility, a newly discovered chemical used in the production of nerve agents, empty chemical munitions and two storage facilities.
Briefing the Council on the implementation of resolution 2118 (2013), Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, said the OPCW and Syria had achieved “significant progress” in efforts to eliminate remnants of the previous Government’s chemical weapons programme.
Ms. Nakamitsu noted that the OPCW Executive Council approved agreements for storage sites in Al Qutayfah and Homs and a plan for the destruction of Category 3 chemical weapons at the Al Qutayfah Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility.
During an August 2026 deployment, OPCW inspectors verified that inventories matched Syria’s declarations and confirmed the irreversible destruction of 42 aerial bombs.
She also noted that the OPCW Executive Council reinstated Syria’s rights and privileges under the Chemical Weapons Convention in July 2026.
Recalling the victims of the 2013 Ghouta attacks, she stressed that “the use of chemical weapons anywhere by anyone, and under any circumstances, is intolerable” and that accountability remains essential. She reaffirmed UN support for OPCW and pledged continued efforts to uphold the global norm against chemical weapons.
Syria Hails ‘Historic Moment’ as Chemical Weapons Destruction Begins
Spotlighting a “historic moment”, Syria’s representative announced that his country is destroying the chemical weapons found there by OPCW. “This is the very first destruction process since we have been liberated from the previous regime,” he said.
This demonstrates, he emphasized, that this file can be transformed into “a model of what diplomacy, coupled with determination, genuine political will and international cooperation, can achieve on the ground”. Further, this represents a “profound political transformation in Syria’s approach to safeguarding — and I repeat, safeguarding — the multilateral system”.
He added that every site secured and every piece of ammunition identified removes a danger to both Syria and the world, and Syria is preparing to hold the first court hearing for the use of such weapons. “All of this in a file in which we are the victims, not the perpetrators,” he stressed.
Divergent Views on OPCW’s Work in Syria
Such progress “could not have been achieved without Syria and the OPCW Secretariat deploying significant technical, financial, and human resources”, said the representative of the United States, as she urged continued close coordination between Syria and the OPCW task force.
“Our work to eliminate the Assad regime’s chemical weapons programme and to promote accountability is not just essential for international peace and security, it is also a way to honor the Syrian men, women and children whose lives were taken,” she emphasized, adding: “Let their memory stir us onward as we work toward a Syria and a world finally free of chemical weapons.”
However, the Russian Federation’s delegate said that the OPCW Technical Secretariat has politicized the issue — “to find so-called concealed elements of the military chemical programme in [Syria] with a focus on accusing the former Government of crimes using chemical weapons”. He urged the Technical Secretariat to act professionally.
“The inability of the [OPCW] to fulfil its work properly — and the lack of desire in its Technical Secretariat to correct the methodology that it has used in the past, which was wrong — is a key problem preventing the implementation in full of resolution 2118 (2013).”
His counterpart from China said that the accountability functions of “highly controversial” investigative teams exceed the mandate given by the Chemical Weapons Convention. OPCW accountability mechanisms relating to Syria have further politicized its work, “seriously undermining its authority and effectiveness”. He stressed that restoring the “technical nature” of OPCW is “a key condition for resolving the issue of Syria’s chemical weapons”.
Members Welcome Syria’s Cooperation but Warn of Unresolved Issues
Many Council members commended Syria for its constructive engagement in addressing all relevant requirements. “This important step is a clear signal that genuine political will and meaningful progress have been recognized,” said the representative of Somalia, who also spoke for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia. Bahrain’s delegate emphasized that this progress — along with the “responsible and constructive” cooperation between Syria and OPCW — provide a “genuine opportunity to resolve and close this file once and for all”.
The speaker for Latvia welcomed what she described as Syria’s “truly impressive” political transition, saying one of the clearest signs of progress had been cooperation on chemical weapons. She said that a country once regarded as a leading example of chemical weapons-related non-compliance under the Assad Government had become a model of transparency and constructive engagement with the international community to identify and eliminate any remaining chemical weapons.
Yet, several members, including Greece and Denmark, expressed concern that 19 issues relating to Syria’s initial declaration remain unresolved, including potentially large quantities of undeclared and/or unverified chemical warfare agents and chemical munitions. In this regard, Panama encouraged the international community to preserve “this momentum of cooperation” and use it to resolve the outstanding issues.
However, the representative of Türkiye underlined the “considerable challenges” associated with destruction efforts. He cited the clandestine nature of the former regime’s chemical weapons programme, exacerbated by Israeli airstrikes targeting potentially relevant sites following the fall of that regime.
“Such actions carry serious risks”, he stressed, noting that they may release hazardous materials and endanger civilians in surrounding areas. “They may also result in the destruction of evidence that could prove indispensable for establishing the facts and ensuring accountability for past chemical-weapons attacks,” he observed.
Delegates Urge Continued International Support for OPCW’s Work in Syria
Pakistan’s delegate also warned that continued instability, the occupation of Syrian territory and military strikes against Syrian sites and facilities “complicate” this work.
Colombia was among those delegations stressing the need for the international community to maintain the financial, technical and logistical support for OPCW so that the watchdog can fully carry out its verification, inspection and assistance mandates on the ground. The United Kingdom is “proud to play a leading role” in these efforts, its representative said, noting that since December 2024, London has contributed over $4.7 million to the OPCW trust fund for Syria, along with nearly $9.5 million in additional bilateral funding for Syrian-led destruction efforts.
The representative of France, Council President for September, spoke in his national capacity to also underline his country’s readiness to provide OPCW and Syria “all necessary financial, technical and political support in carrying out their work”.