OPCW Report on use of Chemical Weapons by Syria

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the head of the international chemical weapons watchdog told the U.N. Security Council that its experts have investigated 77 allegations against Syria, and concluded that in 17 cases chemical weapons were likely or definitely used.

Key Highlights

• Syria joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013, which bans the production or use of such weapons.
• By August 2014, President Bashar Assad’s government declared that the destruction of its chemical weapons was completed. But Syria’s initial declaration to the OPCW has remained in dispute.
• OPCW found the presence of a new chemical weapons agent in samples ....