Assad regime's chemical weapons remnants found in Syria, gov't officials say

Key Points:

• Syrian authorities have discovered remnants of the Assad regime’s chemical weapons program, including raw materials and munitions linked to deadly gas attacks during the civil war, and arrested 18 individuals suspected of involvement, including high-level military and political officials.
• Among those arrested is Khardal Ahmed Dayoub, a former brigadier-general accused of orchestrating chemical attacks in Damascus suburbs, including the 2013 Eastern Ghouta attack that killed approximately 1,400 people.
• The Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons, notably the 2013 sarin gas attack on Ghouta confirmed by UN inspectors, has been widely condemned as a war crime and led to international efforts to disarm Syria’s chemical arsenal.
• Despite the removal of 96% of Syria’s declared chemical weapons by 2014, concerns persist over undeclared stockpiles and incomplete disclosures; following the regime’s fall in December 2024, Syria’s interim authorities have shown increased cooperation with UN and OPCW disarmament efforts.
• The 12th anniversary of the largest chemical weapons attack on August 21, 2013, was marked by continued condemnation of the Assad regime’s systematic use of chemical weapons to terrorize civilians and maintain control during the civil war.