Destruction of Chemical Weapons Facilities in Syria
The civil war in Syria exposed significant failures in global non-proliferation mechanisms. Despite Syria’s 2013 accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention, chemical weapons were used repeatedly with limited accountability. Political deadlocks in the UN and limitations in the OPCW mandate have set a dangerous precedent for future conflicts and consequences for the use of chemical weapons. Following Bashar al- Assad’s overthrow, Israeli airstrikes targeted suspected chemical weapons facilities to prevent their proliferation to extremist groups. While arguments can be made for violating the sovereignty of Syria, the destruction of these weapon stockpiles may have been for the best. This article highlights the erosion of trust in international arms control frameworks and the challenges of preventing chemical weapons proliferation in conflict zones.
