OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria
Joint Mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations for the Elimination of the Chemical Weapons Programme of the Syrian Arab Republic

Closure of OPCW

The OPCW-UN Joint Mission in Syria, established on 16 October 2013, oversaw the timely elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons programme in the safest and most secure manner possible. Its mandate concluded on 30 September 2014, and the OPCW mission in Syria continues to deal with the destruction of chemical weapon production facilities.

Syria chemical weapons destruction begins

6 October 2013 - Press release [bulletin] by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations.


The process of destroying Syria's chemical weapons programme began today. Under the supervision of experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, supported by the United Nations, Syrian personnel used cutting torches and angle grinders to destroy or disable a range of items. This included missile warheads, aerial bombs and mixing and filling equipment. The process will continue in the coming days.

International inspectors from the OPCW supported by a team from the UN are monitoring, verifying and reporting on Syria's compliance with international demands to destroy chemical weapons stockpiles and production facilities.