Syria to dismantle Assad regime's chemical weapons legacy 13 years after deadly attack - analysis
On August 21, 2013, rockets carrying a chemical sarin nerve agent struck areas of Eastern and Western Ghouta outside Damascus
Assessment
Syria's new government is taking on a task that the Assad regime never completed: eliminating its chemical weapons program. The 2013 Ghouta attack killed hundreds and marked a turning point in international norms around chemical warfare. What remains unclear is whether the current authorities have full access to all stockpiles and production sites, and whether the international community will provide the technical and financial support needed for safe dismantlement. The success or failure of this effort will signal how seriously the new leadership treats accountability for past atrocities.