OPCW Finds Dozens of Undeclared Chemical Munitions From Assad Era in Syria
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dozens of previously undeclared chemical bombs and rockets, left behind from the era of former President Bashar Assad, have been uncovered in Syria over the past several weeks, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons disclosed in a May report released Wednesday.
The OPCW, an international watchdog headquartered in The Hague, stated that its inspectors were able to access “high-priority undeclared locations” starting earlier this month. “Dozens of undeclared chemical munitions such as aerial bombs and rockets … have been found at several of these undeclared locations,” the report noted, without specifying exact sites or quantities.
When Syria joined the OPCW in 2013, it declared chemical weapons at 26 locations. But the watchdog has long suspected the country had hidden more — up to 100 additional sites, according to its intelligence. The latest discovery underscores lingering gaps in Syria’s initial declaration, a key issue that has fueled international concerns for years.
After Assad was overthrown in December 2024, the interim government led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa has committed to dismantling any remaining chemical weapons from the former regime. Speaking to the OPCW in The Hague last year, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani called on the international community to assist in ridding the country of the illegal munitions.
“Syria’s new rulers have committed to destroy any remains of the chemical weapons program developed under the Assad regime, to put an end to this painful legacy, to bring justice to victims, and to ensure that the compliance with international law is a solid one,” al-Shibani said.
Syria originally joined the OPCW in 2013 as a last-minute move to avert U.S. airstrikes following a sarin gas attack on the outskirts of Damascus that killed hundreds. At the time, Assad’s government denied responsibility, but subsequent OPCW investigations found evidence of repeated chemical weapon use by Syrian forces during the country’s brutal civil war. The watchdog also documented that the Islamic State group used chemical agents during the conflict.
The newly discovered munitions add urgency to the interim government’s disarmament pledge. While al-Sharaa’s administration has signaled cooperation, the sheer scale of undeclared stockpiles could complicate efforts to fully secure and destroy them, analysts say. The OPCW is expected to continue inspections and press for a complete inventory in the coming months.