US intensifies efforts to prevent misuse of Syria's chemical weapons

By Merve Berker

The US is working along with its Middle Eastern allies to ensure that chemical weapons previously held by the Assad regime do not fall into the hands of terrorist groups, according to media reports on Monday.

“We are taking very prudent measures about this,” the Axios media outlet quoted a US official as saying during a briefing on Sunday, emphasizing that efforts are underway to secure and destroy dangerous materials.

President Joe Biden addressed the situation in a speech, affirming the American commitment to safeguarding Syria’s neighbors, including Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Israel, from threats emerging from the country.

“We will engage with all Syrian groups to establish a transition towards an independent, sovereign Syria that serves all Syrians,” Biden stated.

In addition to US actions, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes on facilities linked to Syria's chemical weapons and ballistic missile programs over the weekend.

“We have a responsibility to make sure strategic weapon systems don’t fall into the wrong hands,” an Israeli official told reporters.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) also announced precision airstrikes targeting ISIS/Daesh camps in central Syria as part of a broader mission to prevent the terrorist group from regrouping.

Meanwhile, the Syrian forces that toppled the Assad regime, while advancing toward Damascus, pledged to secure chemical weapon sites responsibly and offered to coordinate with international monitors to ensure compliance with international law.

Biden stressed the importance of using this moment to achieve justice and a peaceful transition, warning against replacing one tyrant with another.

As the US engages with all factions in Syria, Biden reiterated the need for any future government to uphold the rule of law and protect minority rights.

After a period of relative calm, clashes between Assad regime forces and anti-regime groups reignited on Nov. 27 in rural areas west of Aleppo, a major city in northern Syria.

Over 10 days, the opposition forces launched a lightning offensive, capturing key cities and then, on Sunday, the capital Damascus. The rapid advance, supported by defecting military units, led to the collapse of the Assad regime after 13 years of civil war.

Assad and his family fled to Moscow where Russia granted them asylum.