Over 100 suspected chemical weapons sites remain in Syria, according to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. These sites, left from Bashar al-Assad’s military program, include facilities involved in the research, production, and storage of chemical weapons. Despite the fall of Mr. al-Assad, these weapons pose a serious threat, particularly in densely populated areas where nerve agents like sarin and gases such as chlorine and mustard can cause immediate harm.

The stakes are high, given the potential of militant groups obtaining access to poorly secured facilities. However, there is cautious optimism regarding the new caretaker government’s commitment to destroying any remaining chemical weapons. Although violence has erupted in the coastal region between government forces and aligned groups, the government has allowed a team from the watchdog to enter the country and begin documentation of the sites.

The current estimate of over 100 sites comes from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, based on outside researchers, nonprofit groups, and intelligence provided by its member countries. The sites might be hidden in difficult-to-locate areas such as caves, raising concerns about their security. Experts are concerned about the potential for weapon proliferation and the need for international cooperation to address the issue.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/06/world/middleeast/syria-chemical-weapons-assad.html