BICOM

The Times this morning covers leaked details from a report by international chemical weapons experts charged with dismantling Syria’s chemical arsenal, revealing the extent of President Assad’s stockpile.

Inspectors from the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have so far visited 21 of 23 scheduled sites. The watchdog said that it has been unable to visit the remaining two due to security concerns, as they are thought to be situated in areas of heavy fighting.

The Times says the report reveals the Assad regime has declared almost 1,300 tonnes of chemical weapons along with 1,230 unfilled chemical munitions, ready to be activated. One section of the OPWC report suggests opposition groups may have obtained a small section of this stockpile, stating “Syrian authorities have reported finding two cylinders not belonging to them, which are believed to contain chemical weapons.” The report, which was sent to United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon for distribution among UN Security Council members, apparently expressed confidence that Syria would meet the 1 November deadline for the “functional destruction” of all its chemical weapons production, mixing and filling facilities.

In another development yesterday, UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi travelled to Damascus, as part of an effort to win support for the Geneva II peace conference between Syrian government representatives and opposition groups which the UN, United States and Russia hope will take place in late November. However, over the weekend, a joint statement of 19 opposition groups, said that attending such a conference would be a “betrayal” of their efforts.  Israeli security officials have warned over the increased dominance of Islamist factions within the opposition, expressing concern over possible spill over into Israel.