Fact-Finding Mission

Mandate  

The OPCW Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) is responsible for determining whether toxic chemicals have been used as weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic. The mandate does not include identifying who is responsible for any alleged attacks.

On the basis of the FFM’s findings, the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) (as the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) did previously), collects and analyses evidence that may help to identify the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria. 

Establishment  

With repeated allegations of the use of toxic chemicals for hostile purposes at a number of locations in the Syrian Arab Republic, on 29 April 2014, the Director-General announced the formation of an FFM. The establishment of the FFM was based on the general authority of the OPCW Director-General to seek to uphold at all times the object and purpose of the Chemical Weapons Convention. This authority is reinforced by the relevant decisions of the OPCW Executive Council and the United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 2118 (2013); and its acceptance by the Syrian Arab Republic. 

Key findings 

To date, the FFM has issued 21 reports covering 74 instances of alleged chemical weapons use. The FFM concluded that chemical weapons were used or likely used in 20 instances: in 14 cases the chemical used was chlorine, in three cases the chemical used was Sarin, and in three cases the chemical used was mustard agent. These reports were submitted to the States Parties of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the UN Security Council. All FFM reports are published on the OPCW website

Methodology  

The FFM’s findings are impartial and based on scientific evidence and methods. 

FFM experts interview casualties, first responders, treating physicians, and witnesses, and collect physical evidence related to alleged instances of chemical weapons use, such as biomedical and environmental samples. They also gather, review, and analyse documentation relevant to the alleged incidents, including clinical histories, admission records, and investigation reports of casualties and autopsy findings, if available, of victims. Furthermore, FFM experts review and analyse munitions or remnants of munitions reportedly used to carry out the attacks, if deemed feasible and safe. 

Samples collected are split and sent for analysis to different laboratories of the network of OPCW Designated Laboratories around the globe which use state of the art technology and operate completely independently from each other. The objective of the sampling and analysis is to provide unambiguous evidence of the presence or absence of a particular toxic chemical in a sample.   

Reports

Document Symbol Title Date
S/2254/2024 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of The OPCW Fact-Finding Mission Regarding an Alleged use of Toxic Chemicals as a Weapon in Al-Yarmouk, Syrian Arab Republic, on 22 October 2017 22 February 2024
S/2186/2023 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission Regarding Incidents of Alleged Use of Toxic Chemicals as a Weapon in Kharbit Massasneh, Syrian Arab Republic on 7 July and 4 August 2017 28 June 2023
S/2020/2022 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding the Incident of the Alleged Use of Chemicals as a Weapon in Kafr Zeita, Syrian Arab Republic, 1 October 2016 31 January 2022
S/2017/2022* Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding the Incidents of the Alleged Use of Chemicals as a Weapon in Marea, Syrian Arab Republic, on 1 and 3 September 2015 24 January 2022
S/1901/2020 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding the Incident of Alleged Use of Chemicals as a Weapon in Saraqib, Syrian Arab Republic, on 1 August 2016 1 October 2020
S/1902/2020 Note by the Technical Secretariat: Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission in Syria Regarding the Incident in Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic on 24 November 2018 1 October 2020
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
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/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/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/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/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

FFM Related