Syria May Have Over One Hundred Chemicals Weapons Sites Still Unsecured

What Happened?

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons issued a statement saying they believe Syria may have more than one hundred chemical weapons storage facilities sitting unsecured. 

The organization went on to say that the sites are suspected to have been involved in the research, manufacturing, and storage of chemical weapons.

Mr. al-Assad used weapons like sarin and chlorine gas against rebel fighters and Syrian civilians during more than a decade of civil war. After the fall of the Assad regime it remains unclear exactly how many chemical weapons facilities remain in Syria.

Why it Matters

After the fall of the Assad regime, the future of Syria remains in doubt. The current interim government, which consists of former rebels, may not remain in power long. It’s unclear how much power it really wields over many parts of Syria. 

Added to those uncertainties is the probable existence of an unknown number of chemical weapons facilities that were used by the Assad regime. How many such facilities existed was a closely guarded secret by Assad, and of the handful of people who knew what that number was, several of those are dead or missing. 

Israel has conducted rounds of airstrikes to destroy former Syrian miliary bases, including chemical weapons facilities. But how much of Israel’s airpower has been devoted specifically to the destruction of chemical weapons in Syria isn’t something the current government of Israel has made public.

It’s likely Israeli air power has destroyed or damaged some of those facilities. But it is equally likely there are still chemical weapons facilities that remain intact.

The existence of unsecured chemical weapons facilities is a problem for Syria. Former Assad regime loyalists seeking revenge on the current government would likely be interested in accessing those weapons. 

Such facilities also pose a threat to any civilians who might inadvertently stumble across or into one. Unsecured chemical weapons are a problem for the international community as well. A number of terrorist groups would love to get their hands on weapons of mass destruction to be used in future terrorist attacks around the world.

For its part, the current government of Syria has vowed to destroy any chemical weapons it finds. In a surprise visit in March to The Hague, Syria’s foreign minister said that the government would “destroy any remains of the chemical weapons program developed under the Assad regime” and comply with international law. 

How it Affects You

Should chemical weapons containing sarin or mustard gas fall into the hands of terrorist groups, they could usher in a new wave of global terrorism.

They could also enable terrorist groups to extort potential targets for money by threatening to attack unless they receive payment.