Damascus, Aug. 21 (SANA) On the 13th anniversary of the chemical weapons attack that targeted Eastern Ghouta and Mouadamiyat al-Sham in the Damascus countryside on 21 August 2013, the Syrian Arab Republic and the French Republic commemorated the victims, extended their deepest sympathies and solidarity to their families, and reaffirmed their joint commitment to supporting efforts to uncover the truth, ensure justice, and hold those responsible for these crimes accountable.
In a joint statement , Syria and France said from late 2012 until the fall of the deposed regime in December 2014, Syria witnessed more than 200 chemical weapons attacks, resulting in the death of more than 1,500 people, including women and children
The two countries renewed their joint commitment to combating impunity, in honor of the memory of the victims and in defense of the principle of accountability. In this context, Syria had submitted a request to join the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons, a step welcomed by France as a clear demonstration of Syria’s commitment to strengthening accountability and justice and combating impunity.
They said the request followed the historic visit by the French President to Syria on July 6-7, 2026, which opened a new phase in Syrian-French relations and reflected a shared commitment to overcoming the legacy of the tragic period Syria experienced under the deposed regime and opening a new chapter based on cooperation and mutual respect.
Syria and France stressed the importance of the role played by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in uncovering the facts related to the deposed regime’s chemical weapons program, identifying and verifying its remaining elements, and working towards their destruction, in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Republic.
The two sides also welcomed Syria’s recent restoration of its full rights and privileges within the OPCW and affirmed their support for the Organisation’s efforts to address outstanding issues, thereby contributing to strengthening the chemical weapons prohibition regime, upholding the principle of accountability, and ensuring that these crimes are not repeated.
On August 21, 2013, the deposed regime carried out a large-scale attack using internationally banned sarin gas against several areas in Eastern and Western Ghouta, which led to the martyrdom of more more than 1,400 civilians, including around 200 children and women, and injuring thousands through suffocation and poisoning.
MHD
