OPCW Finds Dozens of Assad-Era Chemical Munitions at Undeclared Syrian Sites
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · May 27
OPCW Finds Dozens of Assad-Era Chemical Munitions at Undeclared Syrian Sites
15 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · May 27
Dozens of previously undeclared aerial bombs and rockets were found in Syria in recent weeks after OPCW inspectors gained access to high-priority sites this month.
The watchdog said the discoveries came at several locations never listed by Damascus, which declared chemical weapons at 26 sites in 2013 while the OPCW suspects about 100 additional sites exist.
Syria's interim government, installed after Bashar Assad's overthrow in December 2024, has pledged to destroy any remaining stockpiles and has asked for international help to eliminate them.
The finds deepen a long-running case: Syria joined the OPCW in 2013 after a sarin attack near Damascus, and the watchdog has since found repeated chemical-weapons use by Assad's forces as well as by Islamic State.
With dozens of chemical bombs just found, what deadly secrets does Syria's former regime still hide?
Will confessions from Assad's arrested generals reveal all of Syria's hidden chemical weapons caches?
From Deception to Disclosure: Syria’s Decade-Long Chemical Weapons Program and the Global Race for Disarmament
Overview
In May 2026, the OPCW confirmed the discovery of dozens of previously undeclared chemical bombs and rockets in Syria, revealing that remnants from the Assad regime’s chemical weapons program are still being uncovered. These munitions resemble those used in past attacks, highlighting Syria’s history of repeated chemical weapon use during the civil war. Unlike previous administrations, the new Syrian government under interim-President Ahmad al-Sharaa has pledged full cooperation with international bodies since December 2024. This marks a significant shift, as Syria now conducts extensive searches and investigations to identify and eliminate all remaining chemical weapons sites.