Watchdog: Last of Syria’s Chemicals ‘Packed and Ready’

Britain Complains About Lack of Specific Timetable

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has confirmed today that the last of Syria’s chemical precursors from its now-destroyed chemical weapons program are all packed up and ready to ship at any time.

The chemicals are about 100 metric tons, about 7.5% of the overall chemicals that were part of the arsenal, and are all at a single site waiting for transportation to the port city of Latakia.

British officials were harshly critical of the report, noting the OPCW hadn’t offered them a specific timetable on the shipment, and saying there was “no sign” Syria was actually relinquishing the chemicals.

According to the OPCW and Syria, the chemicals are at an undisclosed site that still sees too much fighting to be safely moved, and that the shipments will happen as soon as the regional situation calms down.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.