Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, also known as Ahmad Al Sharaa, has announced that his team is collaborating with international organizations to secure potential chemical weapons sites. This statement was shared with Reuters on Wednesday. Jolani further stated his intention to close down the infamous regime-era prisons and eliminate the security services associated with the former Assad regime.
The Pentagon spokesperson, Sabrina Singh, expressed appreciation for Jolani's commitment regarding the safeguarding of chemical weapons sites during a press briefing. Singh emphasized the importance of actions aligning with words, stating that the focus is on preventing these chemical weapons from falling into the wrong hands.
Recent developments have raised concerns about Syria's chemical weapons capabilities. The United Nations reported that the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons could not be verified, while Israel claimed to have targeted Syria's chemical weapons facilities. The US has indicated that it possesses reliable information on the potential locations of chemical weapons within Syria and is working with partners to eliminate them.
Former President Bashar al-Assad had agreed, under pressure from the US, to relinquish Syria's chemical weapons, which had been used in attacks against civilians during the Syrian civil war. Despite this agreement, suspicions remained that Assad retained a hidden stockpile, with the regime being accused of carrying out additional chemical attacks in subsequent years.
