OPCW Finds Dozens of Undeclared Assad-Era Chemical Weapons in Syria

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has revealed that dozens of previously undeclared chemical bombs and rockets linked to the former Bashar Assad regime were discovered in Syria over the past few weeks, raising fresh concerns over the country’s lingering chemical weapons programme.

In its latest monthly report released on Wednesday, the Hague-based global chemical weapons watchdog said inspectors gained access to several “high-priority undeclared locations” earlier this month. During the inspections, teams uncovered multiple chemical munitions, including aerial bombs and rockets, at sites that had never been officially disclosed by Syrian authorities.

The findings underscore the scale of Syria’s unresolved chemical weapons legacy more than a decade after the country formally joined the OPCW in 2013. At the time, Damascus declared that chemical weapons were stored at 26 locations. However, the watchdog has long maintained that it had evidence suggesting the existence of nearly 100 additional undeclared sites.

The discoveries come amid a major political transition in Syria following the overthrow of former President Bashar Assad in December 2024. The new administration led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa has pledged full cooperation with international inspectors and promised to dismantle any remaining stockpiles tied to the previous regime.

Addressing the OPCW in The Hague last year, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani appealed for international assistance to eliminate the remaining chemical arsenal and rebuild trust with the global community.

He said the new Syrian leadership was committed to “destroying any remains of the chemical weapons programme developed under the Assad regime,” describing it as a painful legacy of the country’s prolonged civil war. He also stressed the need to deliver justice to victims and ensure Syria’s compliance with international law.

Syria joined the OPCW in 2013 under intense international pressure following a deadly chemical attack in the outskirts of Damascus that triggered threats of Western military strikes. Although Assad’s government repeatedly denied using chemical weapons during the conflict, OPCW investigations over the years concluded that Syrian government forces had carried out multiple chemical attacks during the civil war.

The watchdog has also previously found evidence that the Islamic State group used chemical agents during the conflict.

The latest discoveries are likely to intensify international scrutiny over Syria’s disarmament commitments and raise questions about how many undeclared chemical weapons facilities may still remain hidden across the war-torn country.

The OPCW has not yet disclosed the exact locations of the newly discovered munitions or the types of chemical agents involved. However, officials indicated that investigations and verification operations are continuing in coordination with Syrian authorities.

The development highlights the ongoing challenge facing Syria’s new government as it seeks to stabilise the country while addressing one of the darkest legacies of the civil war.