1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Syrias Chemical Weapons: Continuing Challenges Mary Beth D. Nikitin Specialist in Nonproliferation Updated October 11, 2017 Since 2014, when the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced completion of the destruc
2、tion of Syrias declared chemical weapons (CW), questions have persisted on the extent of Damascuss undeclared CW and production capacity. International investigators have confirmed repeated chemical weapons attacks in Syria, including chlorine gas attacks attributed to the Asad regime, as well as an
3、 April 4, 2017, attack using sarin nerve agent. In 2017, two air strikes were carried out against chemical weapons-related facilities in Syria: one by the United States on April 6 against the Syrian Al Shayrat airfield, where chemical weapons used in the April 4 attack were allegedly based, and one
4、reportedly by Israel on September 7 against an alleged CW and missile-related laboratory, the Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) near Masyaf. In April, President Trump said, “It is in the vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of dead