OPCW Calls for Access to Investigate Syria

The head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Fernando Arias, plans to request access to Syria from its new leaders for investigations into chemical weapon attacks during the civil war, following the recent toppling of President Bashar al-Assad. U.S. ambassador to the OPCW, Nicole Shampaine, emphasized this moment as a critical opportunity to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons. Arias highlighted the need for clarity on Syria's chemical weapons program after years of inspections and underscored the importance of bringing perpetrators to justice. The OPCW has previously identified Syrian armed forces as responsible for multiple chemical attacks between 2015 and 2017, yet many culprits remain unidentified. In a poignant account, Tawfiq Diam recounted the tragic loss of his wife and four children in a 2018 chemical attack in Douma, calling for accountability against Assad's regime, which has consistently denied using such weapons. The situation remains complex as the international community seeks to address the legacy of chemical warfare in Syria amidst ongoing political changes.