Remnants of chemical weapons from the Assad era have been found in Syria
Syria’s transitional government has reported new discoveries related to chemical weapons. These are remnants of a secret program that, according to the authorities, was active during the tenure of former President Bashar al-Assad. Reuters reported this on May 27.
“The Syrian transitional government has uncovered remnants of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s secret chemical weapons program, including raw materials and munitions similar to those used in deadly gas attacks during the country’s long-running civil war,” Mohamad Katoub, Syria’s permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, told Reuters.
According to him, a total of more than 70 missiles and aerial bombs were found, as well as chemical substances and equipment for the production of the nerve agent sarin.
Equipment for mixing and storing chemical weapons, as well as hexamine, a stabilizing agent known to have been used by Assad’s forces in the production of sarin, were also found during searches at three locations.
“This is the first time such munitions have been seized before they were used in crimes against the Syrian people,” Katoub noted.
Eighteen people were detained on suspicion of involvement in a secret chemical weapons program, including high-ranking military and technical specialists who served during Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
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