Syria unveils four chemical facilities

Syria has declared four chemical weapons facilities it hadn’t mentioned before, a special representative of the UN secretary-general has told the Security Council.

The news heightened concerns that the Syrian government hasn’t been fully open about its chemical weapons program.

Diplomats said Sigrid Kaag told them during closed consultations that three of the facilities are for research and development and one is for production, and that no new chemical agents have been associated with the four sites.

The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, tweeted: “Must keep pressure on regime so it doesn’t hide CW capability.”

A joint mission between the UN and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was tasked last year with eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons program after the Security Council found rare agreement on Syria.

The deal was reached under threat of US airstrikes after images of civilian victims laid out after an attack on a Damascus suburb shocked the world.

President Bashar Assad’s government denied involvement and blamed rebel groups.