US Seeks to Eliminate Syria’s Chemical Weapons Following Assad’s Fall

The United States views the fall of Bashar al-Assad as a significant opportunity to rid Syria of its remaining chemical weapons, which have killed and injured thousands during the brutal civil war. Nicole Shampaine, the US ambassador to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), emphasized Washington's strong commitment to supporting the international effort to eliminate Syria's chemical arsenal. Speaking to Reuters ahead of a critical OPCW meeting in The Hague, Shampaine expressed hope that the collapse of Assad's regime would pave the way for Syria's new leadership to work with the international community to resolve the chemical weapons issue once and for all.

Since Syria joined the OPCW in 2013 under a US-Russian agreement, the country has repeatedly failed to fully comply with its obligations to eliminate its chemical weapons. Despite years of inspections and the destruction of much of Syria’s chemical stockpile, investigators found that chemical weapons, including sarin nerve agent and chlorine gas, were still used by Assad’s forces during the civil war.

At Thursday's OPCW meeting, the organization's chief will seek approval from member states for the funding and technical assistance necessary to complete the chemical disarmament process in Syria. The OPCW’s role has been crucial in overseeing the destruction of over 1,300 metric tons of Syrian chemical weapons, with a portion of the stockpile destroyed on a US ship equipped with specialized hydrolysis systems.

Shampaine expressed confidence that international support would be strong in taking advantage of this opportunity to address Syria's chemical weapons issue. However, with ongoing instability and armed groups still operating in Syria, the OPCW faces challenges in securing and destroying any remaining munitions and chemicals. Diplomatic sources indicate that immediate priorities include locating and securing chemical weapons sites and preventing further proliferation.

As the international community prepares to act, the end of Assad's 54-year rule opens the door to accessing production and storage facilities previously off-limits, which could provide crucial evidence of the regime's chemical weapons program.