US collaborates with partners to eliminate Syria’s remaining chemical weapons
US President Joe Biden speaks about the situation in Syria in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on December 8, 2024. (AFP Photo)
The United States, alongside partners in the Middle East, is intensifying efforts to ensure the chemical weapons once held by the Assad regime in Syria do not fall into the wrong hands.
A U.S. official speaking to Axios confirmed that ongoing operations aim to either destroy or secure dangerous materials like chlorine gas.
US takes action to secure Syria’s chemical weapons
The Biden administration is reportedly coordinating with neighboring countries, including Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel, to address the potential risks posed by Syria’s chemical weapons.
President Joe Biden reaffirmed U.S. commitment to protecting these nations from threats originating in Syria.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that international efforts will continue to hold the Assad regime accountable for previous chemical weapon attacks.
We will be closely monitoring developments as they unfold and engaging with our partners in the region. We will support international efforts to hold the Assad regime and its backers accountable for atrocities and abuses perpetrated against the Syrian people, including the use of chemical weapons and the unjust detention of civilians such as Austin Tice.
We have taken note of statements made by rebel leaders in recent days, but as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words, but their actions.
We again call on all actors to respect human rights, take all precautions to protect civilians, and to uphold international humanitarian law.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Historical context: Chemical weapons in Syria
Syria’s use of chemical weapons has drawn widespread condemnation. Key incidents include:
- 2013 Ghouta attack: Over 1,400 civilians were killed in a sarin gas attack, violating international norms.
- Ongoing accusations: Reports indicate multiple chemical weapon attacks by the Assad regime, even after a 2013 agreement brokered with Russia to destroy stockpiles.
- At approximately 6 a.m. on March 24, 2017, a Su-22 military airplane belonging to the 50th Brigade of the 22nd Air Division of the Syrian Arab Air Force, departing from Shayrat airbase, dropped an M4000 aerial bomb containing sarin in southern Ltamenah, affecting at least 16 persons.
- At approximately 3 p.m. on March 25, 2017, a helicopter of the Syrian Arab Air Force, departing from Hama airbase, dropped a cylinder on the Ltamenah hospital; the cylinder broke into the hospital through its roof, ruptured, and released chlorine, affecting at least 30 persons.
- At approximately 6 a.m. on March 30, 2017, a Su-22 military airplane belonging to the 50th Brigade of the 22nd Air Division of the Syrian Arab Air Force, departing from Shayrat airbase, dropped an M4000 aerial bomb containing sarin in southern Ltamenah, affecting at least 60 persons.
International monitoring organizations, such as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), have documented repeated violations by the Assad regime.
Recent military developments in Syria
Efforts to secure Syria’s chemical weapons occur against a backdrop of intensified military activity:
- Israeli airstrikes: Israeli forces conducted airstrikes targeting facilities linked to Syria’s chemical weapons and ballistic missile programs.
- U.S. precision strikes: The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) launched airstrikes on Daesh terrorist organization positions in central Syria to prevent the group from exploiting the current instability.
