17 instances of chemical weapons used in Syria: Watchdog

Russia slams the global chemical weapons watchdog for collecting evidence remotely and relying on ‘pseudo witnesses’.

The international chemical weapons watchdog has told the United Nations Security Council its experts investigated 77 allegations against Syria, and concluded in 17 cases chemical weapons were likely or definitely used. Fernando Arias, head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), on Thursday called it “a disturbing reality” that eight years after Syria joined the chemical weapons convention, which bans the production or use of such weapons, many questions remain about its initial declaration of its weapons, stockpiles and precursors and its continuing programme. He said the OPCW will be taking up a new issue at its next consultations with Syria – “the presence of a new chemical weapons agent found in samples collected in large storage containers in September 2020”.