Syria and the OPCW

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has been actively involved in Syria since its accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 2013.

Chemical Weapons

OPCW-UN Joint Mission

The OPCW-UN Joint Mission was formally established on 16 October 2013 to oversee the timely elimination of the chemical weapons programme of the Syrian Arab Republic in the safest and most secure manner possible.

Chemical Weapons Munitions

OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM)

The OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) was set up in 2014 to establish facts surrounding allegations of the use of toxic chemicals, reportedly chlorine, for hostile purposes in the Syrian Arab Republic.

Clip Boards

Declaration Assessment Team

The Declaration Assessment Team (DAT) was established 2014 to engage the relevant Syrian authorities to resolve the identified gaps and inconsistencies in the Syrian declaration.

Inspector

OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism

The OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) was established by the UN Security Council to identify the perpetrators of the chemical weapon attacks confirmed by the Fact Finding Mission.

The JIM presented its reports to the Security Council, and informed the OPCW. The JIM’s mandate expired in November 2017.

Investigation

Investigation and Identification Team (IIT)

In 2018, OPCW Member States tasked the OPCW Secretariat with new responsibilities including investigating and identifying the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria. The Secretariat set up an Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) to fulfil this new mandate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Related News

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Progress Reports

Document Symbol Title Date
EC‑94/DG.1 Report by the Director-General: Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 March 2020
EC‑93/DG.12 Report by the Director-General: Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 February 2020
EC‑93/DG.5 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 December 2019
EC‑92/DG.22 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 September 2019
EC‑92/DG.6 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 August 2019
EC‑92/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 July 2019
EC‑90/DG.4 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 21 December 2018
EC‑89/DG.24 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 September 2018
EC‑89/DG.10 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 August 2018
EC‑89/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 July 2018
EC‑88/DG.16 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 22 June 2018
EC‑88/DG.8 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 May 2018
EC‑88/DG.3 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 April 2018
EC‑88/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 March 2018
EC‑87/DG.16 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 February 2018
EC‑87/DG.10 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 22 January 2018
EC‑87/DG.7 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 22 December 2017
EC‑87/DG.4 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 November 2017
EC‑87/DG.2 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 October 2017
EC‑86/DG.23 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 25 September 2017
EC‑86/DG.7 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 August 2017
EC‑86/DG.2 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 July 2017
EC‑85/DG.21 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 June 2017
EC‑85/DG.11 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 May 2017
EC‑85/DG.5 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 April 2017
EC‑85/DG.2 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 March 2017
EC‑84/DG.22 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 February 2017
EC‑84/DG.11 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 January 2017
EC‑84/DG.6 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 22 December 2016
EC‑84/DG.4 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 November 2016
EC‑84/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 25 October 2016
EC‑83/DG.18 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 26 September 2016
EC‑83/DG.6 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 22 August 2016
EC‑83/DG.2 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 22 July 2016
EC‑82/DG.9 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 25 May 2016
EC‑82/DG.5 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 22 April 2016
EC‑82/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 March 2016
EC‑81/DG.11 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 February 2016
EC‑81/DG.05 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 25 January 2016
EC‑81/DG.3 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 22 December 2015
EC‑81/DG.2 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 November 2015
EC‑81/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 22 October 2015
EC‑80/DG.20 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 September 2015
EC‑80/DG.4 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 August 2015
EC‑80/DG.2 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 July 2015
EC‑79/DG.15 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 June 2015
EC‑79/DG.8 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 22 June 2015
EC‑M‑49/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 April 2015
EC‑79/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 March 2015
EC‑78/DG.9 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 February 2015
S/1230/2014 Third Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria 18 December 2014
EC‑78/DG.3 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 November 2014
EC‑M‑46/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 October 2014
S/1212/2014/Corr.1 Second Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Key Findings - Corrigendum 29 September 2014
EC‑77/DG.22 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 24 September 2014
S/1212/2014 Second Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Key Findings 10 September 2014
EC‑M‑44/DG.2 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 25 August 2014
EC‑M‑44/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 25 July 2014
EC‑76/DG.16 Overall Report on the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 4 July 2014
EC‑76/DG.14 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 25 June 2014
EC‑M‑42/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 May 2014
EC‑M‑40/DG.4 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 25 April 2014
EC‑M‑40/DG.1/Rev.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 27 March 2014
EC‑75/DG.6 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 25 February 2014
EC‑M‑39/NAT.4 Switzerland: Statement by Mr Philippe Brandt, Deputy Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the OPCW at the Thirty-Ninth Meeting of the Executive Council Under Item 3 "Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme" 21 February 2014
EC‑M‑38/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 23 January 2014
EC‑M‑35/DG.1 Progress in the elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 25 November 2013
EC‑M‑34/DG.1 Progress in the Elimination of the Syrian Chemical Weapons Programme 25 October 2013

Decisions

Document Symbol Title Date
EC‑83/DEC.5 Decision: OPCW-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism Reports on Chemical Weapons Use in the Syrian Arab Republic 11 November 2016
EC‑M‑48/DEC.1 Decision: Reports of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria 4 February 2015
EC‑M‑46/DEC.1 Decision: Combined Plan for Destruction and Verification of the “Al-Maliha” Ricin Production Facility in the Syrian Arab Republic 19 November 2014
EC‑M‑42/DEC.3 Destruction of Twelve Chemical Weapons Production Facilities in the Syrian Arab Republic 17 June 2014
EC‑M‑42/DEC.1 Decision: Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons 17 June 2014
EC‑M‑34/DEC.1 Detailed Requirements for the Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons and Syrian Chemical Weapons Production Facilities 15 November 2013
EC‑M‑33/DEC.1 Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons 27 September 2013

Reports

Document Symbol Title Date
S/1731/2019 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the Fact-Finding Mission Regarding the Incident of Alleged Use of Toxic Chemicals as a Weapon in Douma, Syrian Arab Republic, on 7 April 2018 1 March 2019
S/1626/2018/Corr.1 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding an Alleged Incident in Saraqib, Syrian Arab Republic on 4 February 2018 - Corrigendum 18 July 2018
S/1645/2018/Corr.1 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Interim Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding the Incident of Alleged Use of Toxic Chemicals as a Weapon in Douma, Syrian Arab Republic, on 7 April 2018 - Corrigendum 10 July 2018
S/1645/2018 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Interim Report on the Progress of the Fact-Finding Mission Regarding an Incident of Alleged Use of Toxic Chemicals as a Weapon in Douma, Syrian Arab Republic, on 7 April 2018 6 July 2018
S/1642/2018 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding the Incidents in Al-Hamadaniyah on 30 October 2016 and in Karm Al-Tarrab on 13 November 2016 2 July 2018
S/1636/2018 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding Alleged Incidents in Ltamenah, the Syrian Arab Republic on 24 and 25 March 2017 13 June 2018
S/1626/2018 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding an Alleged Incident in Saraqib, Syrian Arab Republic on 4 February 2018 15 May 2018
EC‑88/CRP.1 Draft Report of the OPCW on the Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction in 2017 25 April 2018
S/1548/2017 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding An Alleged Incident in Ltamenah, the Syrian Arab Republic, 30 March 2017 2 November 2017
S/1510/2017 Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria regarding an alleged incident in Khan Shaykhun, Syrian Arab Republic April 2017 29 June 2017
S/1491/2017 Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding the Incident of 16 September 2016 as Reported in the Note Verbale of the Syrian Arab Republic Number 113 dated 29 November 2016 1 May 2017
S/1445/2016 Summary Update of the Activities Carried Out by the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria in 2016 27 December 2016
S/1444/2016 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding the Incident of 2 August 2016 as Reported in the Note Verbale of the Syrian Arab Republic Number 69 dated 16 August 2016 21 December 2016
S/1318/2015/Rev.1/Add.1 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding the Incidents Described in Communications from the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and Head of the National Authority of Syria - Addendum 29 February 2016
S/1318/2015/Rev.1 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding the Incidents Described in Communications from the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and Head of the National Authority of Syria 17 December 2015
S/1320/2015 Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding Alleged Incidents in Marea, Syrian Arab Republic, August 2015 29 October 2015
S/1319/2015 Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding Alleged Incidents in the Idlib Governorate of the Syrian Arab Republic Between 16 March and 20 May 2015 29 October 2015
S/1230/2014 Third Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria 18 December 2014
S/1191/2014/Corr.1 Summary Report of the Work of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Covering the Period from 3 to 31 May 2014 - Corrigendum 1 October 2014
S/1212/2014/Corr.1 Second Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Key Findings - Corrigendum 29 September 2014
S/1212/2014 Second Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Key Findings 10 September 2014
S/1191/2014 Summary Report of the Work of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Covering the Period from 3 to 31 May 2014 16 June 2014

Updates

Document Symbol Title Date
S/1839/2020 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the Investigation into Possible Breaches of Confidentiality 6 February 2020
Director-General’s Statement on the Report of the Investigation into Possible Breaches of Confidentiality 6 February 2020
Remarks of the Director-General: Briefing for States Parties on Syrian Arab Republic: Update on IIT-FFM-SSRC-DAT 28 May 2019
S/1755/2019 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Update on the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria 21 May 2019
s/1677/2018 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Summary Update of the Activities Carried out by the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria 10 October 2018
EC‑M‑59/DG.2 Update by the Director-General on the Deployment of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission to Douma, Syrian Arab Republic, to the Executive Council at its Fifty-Ninth Meeting 18 April 2018
S/1497/2017 Status Update of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding a Reported Incident in Khan Shaykhun, 4 April 2017 12 May 2017

Related

Document Symbol Title Date
EC‑90/NAT.41 Russian Federation: Request for Circulation of a Document 26 April 2019
EC‑88/DG.22/Corr.1 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Eighty-Eighth Session - Corrigendum 16 July 2018
EC‑88/DG.22 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Eighty-Eighth Session 10 July 2018
EC‑85/DG.16 First Inspections at the Barzah and Jamrayah Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre Facilities in the Syrian Arab Republic in Accordance with Decision EC-83/DEC.5 (dated 11 November 2016) 2 June 2017
S/1255/2015*/Add.1 Future Activities of the Fact-Finding Mission - Addendum 13 March 2015
S/1255/2015* Future Activities of the Fact-Finding Mission 10 March 2015

Related Official Series Documents

Document Symbol Title Date
EC‑M‑58/NAT.20 Islamic Republic of Iran: Request for Circulation of a Document 24 May 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.10 Russian Federation: Statement of the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OPCW, 28 April 2018 28 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.8 Russian Federation: Statement by the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Alexander Shulgin, at the Briefing for the CWC States Parties with the Participation of the Residents of Douma (Syria) 26 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.5 Joint Statement by: Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America 26 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.7 Russian Federation: Introductory Statement by the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Alexander Shulgin, at the Briefing for the CWC States Parties with the Participation of the Residents of Douma (Syria) 26 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.9 Russian Federation: Closing Remarks by the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Alexander Shulgin, at the Briefing for the CWC States Parties with the Participation of the Residents of Douma 26 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.1 France: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Philippe Lalliot Permanent Representative of France to the OPCW at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.14 Croatia: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Andrea Gustović-Ercegovac Permanent Representative of Croatia to the OPCW at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/DG.1 Opening Statement by the Director-General to the Executive Council at its Fifty-Eighth Meeting 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.6 Switzerland: Statement by Nadine Olivieri Lozano, Deputy Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the OPCW at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council - Under Agenda Item 3 Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.17 Sweden: Statement by Mr Petter Lycke Deputy Permanent Representative of Sweden to the OPCW at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.11 Germany: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Christine Weil Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the OPCW at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.21 Canada: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Sabine Nölke Permanent Representative of Canada to the OPCW at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.13 Italy: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Andrea Perugini Permanent Representative of Italy to the OPCW at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.18 Turkey: Statement by the Delegation of the Republic of Turkey at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.19 India: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Venu Rajamony Permanent Representative of India to the OPCW at the Fifthy-Eight Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.4 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Peter Wilson Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the OPCW at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.15 Bulgaria: Statement on behalf of the European Union delivered by H.E. Ambassador Krassimir Kostov Permanent Representative of the Republic of Bulgaria to the OPCW at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.12 Australia: Statement by H.E. The Honourable Brett Mason Permanent Representative of Australia to the OPCW at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑M‑58/NAT.16 Islamic Republic of Iran: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Dr Alireza Jahangiri Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the OPCW at the Fifty-Eighth Meeting of the Executive Council 16 April 2018
EC‑87/NAT.37 Belgium: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Christian Lepage Permanent Representative of Belgium to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 14 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.39 Chile: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Maria Teresa Infante Permanent Representative of Chile to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 13 March 2018
EC‑87/NAT.35 Italy: Statement by H.E. Ambassador Andrea Perugini Permanent Representative of Italy to the OPCW at the Eighty-Seventh Session of the Executive Council 13 March 2018
EC‑84/DG.25 Status of Implementation of Executive Council Decision EC-83/DEC.5 (Dated 11 November 2016) 6 March 2017
EC‑82/DG.18 Conclusions on the Outcome of Consultations with the Syrian Arab Republic Regarding its Chemical Weapons Declaration 6 July 2016
EC‑M‑36/DG.4 Call for Proposals for the Treatment and Disposal of Chemicals, Effluents and Related Packaging Materials with Respect to the Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons 16 December 2013
EC‑M‑34/NAT.4 Syrian Arab Republic: Statement delivered by Mr Husamuddin Alla - Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the Syrian Arab Republic at the Thirty-Fourth meeting of the Executive Council 15 November 2013
EC‑74/S/4 Briefing by the Technical Secretariat on the Technical Assistance Visit to the Syrian Arab Republic 10 October 2013
EC‑M‑33/NAT.1 Joint National Paper by the Russian Federation and the United States of America: Framework for Elimination of Syrian Chemical Weapons 17 September 2013

Declarations Assessment Team (DAT)

Document Symbol Title Date
EC‑91/DG.23 Outcome of Consultations with the Syrian Arab Republic Regarding its Chemical Weapons Declaration 5 July 2019
C‑SS‑4/DEC.3 Decision: Addressing the Threat from Chemical Weapons Use 27 June 2018
EC‑83/DEC.5 Decision: OPCW-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism Reports on Chemical Weapons Use in the Syrian Arab Republic 11 November 2016
EC‑82/DG.18 Conclusions on the Outcome of Consultations with the Syrian Arab Republic Regarding its Chemical Weapons Declaration 6 July 2016
EC‑81/DEC.4 Decision: Report by the Director-General Regarding the Declaration and Related Submissions by the Syrian Arab Republic 23 March 2016
EC‑M‑33/DEC.1 Destruction of Syrian Chemical Weapons 27 September 2013

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