Syria's transitional government unveiled a plan in March 2026 to track and destroy the former Assad regime’s remaining chemical weapons (CW) and facilities, establishing an international task force with the OPCW. This process faces significant obstacles, including landmines around CW sites, domestic unrest, non-state armed groups' activities, and regional conflicts.
The OPCW and international community suspect Syria's 2013 CW declaration was incomplete, with potentially 100 additional facilities and undeclared agents like mustard gas and sarin precursors. Disarmament operations require at least €12.5 million in 2027, a financial burden for war-torn Syria, exacerbated by US budget cuts to USAID. Ongoing civil unrest, particularly in coastal areas, and active groups like the Islamic State, complicate inspections and security. The OPCW Technical Secretariat re-established its office in Syria in November 2025, visiting over 20 sites and finding undeclared chemical munitions. Legal challenges persist regarding victim and perpetrator accountability, with the OPCW planning interviews and providing information to the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for criminal proceedings. Dismantling this legacy will take years.
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