OPCW restores Syria's voting rights after new authorities cooperate

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has returned voting rights to Syria after concluding that the country's new authorities — installed following the 2024 ouster of Bashar al-Assad — have taken concrete steps to address outstanding chemical-weapons obligations. The watchdog said the move reflects a "significant change" since Syria's 2021 suspension for failing to declare the full scope of its programme and for repeated uses of poison gas; the new government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa has facilitated verification activities and begun destroying identified remnants.

Syria joined the OPCW in 2013 and agreed to destroy an estimated 1,000 tonnes of toxic agents under an international plan after alleged chemical attacks in Ghouta. The previous government was accused of misleading inspectors about the scale of its programme. OPCW Director-General Fernando Arias said the reinstatement follows tangible progress made through cooperation with the Technical Secretariat and support from other States Parties, as reported by Al Jazeera

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