Assad's fall opens new opportunity to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons

The fall of Syria's Bashar al-Assad presents a new chance to eliminate the country's chemical weapons, according to diplomatic sources. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is closely monitoring the situation and has reminded Syria of its obligations to declare and destroy these weapons. For over a decade, the OPCW has struggled to verify Syria's chemical weapons status due to obstruction from Assad's government. Despite Syria's declaration of 1,300 tons of banned weapons in 2013, evidence suggests ongoing violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Security arrangements will be necessary for OPCW inspectors to operate in Syria, potentially involving new power brokers like rebel groups. Past missions faced significant risks, including attacks on inspectors.