Syria begins destroying chemical weapons left by Assad regime

September 7, 2026 at 10:20 AM2 min

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Syria has begun destroying chemical weapons left over from the regime of former president Bashar al-Assad, its UN envoy said. The operation is the first of its kind on Syrian territory in more than a decade. The new government has expressed readiness to cooperate with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).

Key Facts

Syria informed the UN Security Council that it has begun destroying chemical weapons left over from the Assad regime.
The operation is the first of its kind on Syrian territory in more than a decade, according to Syria's UN envoy Ibrahim Alabi.
The new Syrian government has expressed readiness to cooperate with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
In 2021, the OPCW stripped Syria of its voting rights after concluding that Syrian air forces had used sarin and chlorine against civilians.
In July 2026, the OPCW restored Syria's full voting rights, citing the changed situation after the fall of the Assad regime and the new government's efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.

Destruction Operation

Syria's UN envoy Ibrahim Alabi told the Security Council that the destruction of chemical weapons left over from the Assad regime has begun. He said the operation is the first of its kind on Syrian territory in more than a decade. The operation aims to prevent prohibited materials from falling into the wrong hands and to reduce the threat to Syria and the region.

OPCW Cooperation

The new Syrian government has expressed readiness to cooperate with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). In 2021, the OPCW stripped Syria of its voting rights after concluding that Syrian air forces had used sarin and chlorine against civilians. In July 2026, the OPCW restored Syria's full voting rights, citing the changed situation after the fall of the Assad regime and the new government's efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.