Syria's chemical weapons base: A new threat to global security

A recent US report has revealed alarming information about the existence of more than 100 chemical weapons sites in Syria. Many of these sites are located in areas so secret and remote that they cannot be detected even by satellite surveillance. The report said most of these bases were used for research, production and storage of the nerve gases sarin, chlorine and mustard gas. Many of the bases are hidden in mountain caves or areas inaccessible to humans, making their location and destruction difficult. An investigation team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently visited Syria, inspecting some of the old production and storage facilities, many of which have already been looted or destroyed by airstrikes.

The inspection is seen as a major step forward, as the regime of Bashar al-Assad has repeatedly obstructed the OPCW and restricted its activities in recent years. The OPCW team has now been granted full security and unrestricted access, signaling a dramatic change in the situation. According to experts, the presence of chemical weapons in these vulnerable and unexpected locations poses a major security threat not only to Syria, but also to the entire region, as such weapons could have dire consequences if they fell into the hands of extremist or terrorist groups. According to the information received, the following deadly chemical elements were found in these weapons bases: Sarin gas: A type of nerve agent that can be fatal in a short time. Chlorine gas: which impairs the respiratory system and causes severe burns. Mustard gas: Causes eye and skin irritation, and causes fluid buildup in the lungs, causing suffocation. During an international visit to The Hague in March this year, Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Hassan al-Shaibani assured that all remaining chemical weapons from the Assad era would be destroyed and that Syria would fully respect international law. Currently, based on information from OPCW member states' intelligence agencies, international human rights organizations, and independent researchers, the number of chemical weapons sites in Syria is estimated to be over 100. The OPCW wants to ensure full access to all these suspected sites so that it can verify the status of the weapons and take appropriate action. 

The major challenge facing the new Syrian government now is to safely destroy these deadly weapons and prevent them from falling into the hands of extremists. The success of this process is critical not only for Syria's security, but for the security of the entire world.