Global Chemical Arms Watchdog Warns Syria about Unaccounted Weapons

 Syrian citizens wave the revolutionary flag and shout slogans, as they celebrate during the second day of the take over of the city by the opposition in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP)
Syrian citizens wave the revolutionary flag and shout slogans, as they celebrate during the second day of the take over of the city by the opposition in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP)
TT
20

Global Chemical Arms Watchdog Warns Syria about Unaccounted Weapons

 Syrian citizens wave the revolutionary flag and shout slogans, as they celebrate during the second day of the take over of the city by the opposition in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP)
Syrian citizens wave the revolutionary flag and shout slogans, as they celebrate during the second day of the take over of the city by the opposition in Damascus, Syria, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. (AP)

The global chemical weapons watchdog said Monday that it reminded Syria of its obligations to comply with rules to safeguard certain toxic chemicals after opposition forces entered the capital Damascus over the weekend and overthrew Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said in a statement it has been “monitoring closely the recent developments in Syria, with special attention to the status of its chemical weapons-related sites and other locations of interest.”

Syria’s Prime Minister Mohammed Ghazi Jalali said Monday that most cabinet ministers are still working from offices in Damascus but the status of a stockpile of chemical weapons that Assad has been accused of using against civilians is unclear.

The OPCW has been in contact with the Syrian embassy in The Hague, where the organization is based.

Neighboring Israel has said it is carrying out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel has also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew.

Assad’s regime has denied using chemical weapons but the OPCW has found evidence indicating their repeated use by Syria in the country’s grinding civil war.

Earlier this year, the organization found the ISIS group had used mustard gas against the town of Marea.

The Kremlin said Sunday that Russia had granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Putin was not planning to meet with him.

Streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future.

Jalali, who remained in his post after Assad and most of his top officials vanished over the weekend, said the government is coordinating with the opposition, and that he is ready to meet opposition leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who made a triumphal appearance at a famed Damascus mosque on Sunday.



Israeli Military Recovers Body of a Hostage in Gaza, Is Examining Identity of a Second Body

Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
TT
20

Israeli Military Recovers Body of a Hostage in Gaza, Is Examining Identity of a Second Body

Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians inspect damaged residential buildings where two Israeli hostages were reportedly held before being rescued during an operation by Israeli security forces in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, on Feb. 12, 2024. (AP)

The Israeli military said Wednesday that troops have recovered the body of a hostage held in Gaza and were examining whether another body recovered was also that of a captive.

Earlier, Israel's defense minister said that troops recovered the bodies of two hostages.

The military said the body of Yosef Al Zaydani was brought to Israel on Tuesday after being discovered in an underground tunnel near the southern Gaza city of Rafah. It said troops uncovered information about Al Zaydani's son Hamzah that "raised serious concerns for his life."

Military spokesman Col. Nadav Shoshani said the military was looking into the identity of a second set of remains recovered.

Al Zaydani and his son were taken captive during Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7, 2023, among 250 hostages snatched by the group during its cross-border raid.

Israel believes a third of the remaining 100 hostages are dead.

The body's recovery comes as Israel and Hamas are considering a ceasefire deal that would free the hostages and halt the fighting in Gaza.

However, Yosef and Hamzah Al Zaydani were believed to still be alive and their return could ramp up the pressure on Israel to move ahead on a deal.

Yosef Al Zaydani's name was on a list of 34 hostages shared by a Hamas official with The Associated Press that the group said were slated for release.

Many families of hostages say the continuation of the war in Gaza puts the lives of the remaining hostages at risk. They have demanded throughout the conflict that Israel reaches a deal with Hamas to free their loved ones.