1、CRS InsightsSyrias Chemical Weapons: Progress and Continuing ChallengesMary Beth D. Nikitin, Specialist in Nonproliferation (mnikitincrs.loc.gov, 7-7745)Michael L. Moodie, Assistant Director/Foreign Affairs (mmoodiecrs.loc.gov, 7-8470)October 1, 2014 (IN10160)On August 18, the Organization for the P
2、rohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced thecomplete destruction of Syrias declared chemical weapons (CW). Despite this significant achievement,serious challenges relating to Syrian CW remain. In early September, the Syrian regime announcedpreviously undeclared chemical weapons research facil
3、ities, raising questions about what else it mightbe concealing. Repeated reports have alleged chlorine gas attacks by the Assad regime. Moreover,press reports speculate that insecure chemical weapons stocks in Syria and Iraq may have gotten intothe hands of the Islamic State (ISIL). Most of these qu
4、estions cannot yet be answered definitively, butthe fate of Syrias CW capabilities warrants continued attention.Syrias CW program began in the 1970s with help from the Soviet Union, primarily as a hedge againstIsrael. After joining the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), Syria declared 1,300 metric t
