April 18, 2025 12:40 pm (IST)
Chemical watchdog to probe chlorine gas attacks in Syria
New York, Apr 30 (IBNS): The head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said on Tuesday it will seek to "establish the facts" surrounding allegations of the use of chlorine in Syria, where it is already working jointly with the United Nations to rid the country of its chemical weapons.
According to media reports, opposition activists say the Syrian Government has attacked rebel-held areas with chlorine gas. The Government denies the claims.
OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü announced the creation of the fact-finding mission at a meeting of the body’s Executive Council held in The Hague.
The Syrian Government has agreed to accept the mission and will provide security in areas under its control, the OPCW said in a news release. The investigative team is expected to depart for Syria soon.
“The Secretary-General has expressed his support and assured the assistance of the United Nations in meeting the significant security and logistical demands of this mission,” UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York.
Last week, the Joint Mission of the OPCW and the UN (OPCW-UN) said that 92.5 per cent of Syria’s chemical weapons material has been removed or destroyed in country, including all declared production, mixing and filling equipment and munitions, as well as some buildings associated with the country’s chemical weapons programme.
The deadline for the completion of this process is 30 June 2014, the date set by the OPCW Executive Council and the UN Security Council.
The alleged use of chlorine gas is just the latest development in the ongoing conflict, which has caused untold suffering for millions of civilians over the past three years.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Israel-Palestine crisis: IDF confirms eliminating Hamas’ Shejaiya Battalion commander Muhammad al-‘Ajlah
Wed, Apr 16 2025
Israeli fighter jet drops bomb close to Israeli community on Gaza border due to 'technical malfunction', no injury
Wed, Apr 16 2025
UN denounces deadly Palm Sunday attack in Ukraine's Sumy
Tue, Apr 15 2025
Israeli attack puts Gaza City hospital out of service, says WHO
Tue, Apr 15 2025
US Secretary of State Rubio extends condolences to victims of Russian missile strike on Ukraine's Sumy
Mon, Apr 14 2025
UK government takes tough stands against 'Khalistan' supporters
Sun, Apr 13 2025
Israel says its air strike partially destroyed last fully functional Gaza hospital that contained Hamas command center
Sun, Apr 13 2025