The Hague, Aug. 21 (SANA) The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has reaffirmed its commitment to working with Syria and member states to ensure the tragedies caused by chemical weapons use are not repeated, with the 13th anniversary of the Ghouta chemical attack serving as a stark reminder of the need to uphold the global norm against such weapons.
In a post on X on Friday, OPCW Director-General Sabrina Dallafior said: “On the anniversary of the 2013 chemical weapons attack in Ghouta, my thoughts are with the victims and survivors, their families, and all those who have suffered from chemical weapons use in Syria and beyond.”
Dallafior said she discussed this week with Syria’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW, Ambassador Mohamad Katoub, the next steps in joint work, noting that recent progress—including the discovery of previously undeclared chemical munitions—demonstrates the scale of work remaining, while also showing what can be achieved through serious cooperation between the two sides.
She expressed her commitment as OPCW Director-General to working with Syria and all member states to ensure chemical weapons never cause such suffering again.
Earlier Friday, Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani revealed that Syria will begin a new phase in dealing with the legacy of chemical weapons through technical procedures in cooperation with international partners.
On Aug. 21, 2013, the deposed regime launched a sarin gas attack on Eastern and Western Ghouta, killing more than 1,400 civilians, including 200 children and women, and injuring thousands with suffocation and poisoning, in one of the most horrific crimes committed against Syrians.
Following the fall of the ousted regime in December 2024, Syria committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention and has taken concrete steps to cooperate with the OPCW.
The Syrian government continues to pursue those involved in the massacre, while working to eliminate the chemical legacy of the deposed regime.
Kh.A / H.H
