THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The global body overseeing chemical weapons announced on Monday that it has reminded Syria of its responsibility to adhere to regulations concerning the management of certain hazardous chemicals. This development comes after insurgents took control of the capital, Damascus, and deposed President Bashar Assad over the weekend.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) issued a statement indicating their ongoing surveillance of the situation in Syria, particularly focusing on the status of chemical weapon facilities and other significant sites.
Syria’s Prime Minister, Mohammed Ghazi Jalali, stated on Monday that most ministers continue to work from their offices in Damascus. However, there remains uncertainty surrounding the condition of the chemical weapon stockpiles that Assad has been accused of using against his own people.
The OPCW has been in communication with the Syrian embassy in The Hague, which is where the organization is headquartered.
In the meantime, Israel has confirmed conducting airstrikes targeting suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range missile installations to prevent these weapons from falling into the hands of extremist groups. Additionally, Israel has taken control of a buffer zone within Syrian territory as Syrian forces have retreated.
While Assad’s government has consistently claimed it did not employ chemical weapons, the OPCW has gathered compelling evidence suggesting their repeated use throughout the ongoing civil conflict in Syria.
Earlier this year, the organization reported that the Islamic State had utilized mustard gas in an attack on the town of Marea.
On another front, the Kremlin announced on Sunday that Russia had granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov refrained from providing details about Assad’s exact location, noting that Putin did not intend to meet with him.
As the situation continues to evolve, streams of refugees have begun returning to Syria from neighboring countries, seeking a potentially more stable future. Jalali, who has maintained his position following the disappearance of Assad and many top officials, has stated that the government is in dialogue with the rebels. He expressed his willingness to meet with rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who was seen making a prominent appearance at a notable mosque in Damascus on Sunday.
