Assad regime continues to produce chemical weapons - intelligence report

A western intelligence agency has revealed that the Syrian regime of President Bashar Al-Assad continues to produce chemical weapons in violation of a 2013 deal to eliminate them, AlKhaleej Online reported yesterday.

According to the Arab website, an intelligence document obtained by the BBC says that chemical and biological munitions are being produced in three main sites near Damascus and Hama, with the knowledge of both Russia and Iran. All three sites are branches of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC), an Assad regime agency, it adds.

Despite monitoring of the sites by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the document alleges that production and maintenance continues in closed sections.

The document also accuses the Syrian regime of falsely declaring the work of one of these research branches as defensive when in fact it continues to develop offensive capabilities.

Syria agreed to relinquish its stockpile of chemical weapons following an agreement brokered by the US and Russia in 2013.

Last month, the Syrian regime launched a chemical attack on the opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhoun killing at least 87, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.