According to statements broadcast by the official Syrian channel Al-Ikhbariya, the diplomat affirmed that Damascus maintains close cooperation with the OPCW Technical Secretariat and continues working to completely eliminate waste from the chemical program of the ousted government of Bashar al-Assad.

  Katoub warned that Israeli military operations create security challenges and operational complications that affect disposal efforts. He also maintained that these actions violate the Chemical Weapons Convention.

  The Syrian representative noted that his country prioritizes identifying and holding accountable those who participated in the development or use of chemical weapons, with the aim of ensuring justice and preventing such events from recurring.

  On September 3, Syria announced the start of the destruction of a batch of chemical materials found within its territory, in what it presented as the first operation of this kind since the fall of the al-Assad government on December 8, 2024.

  These statements come amidst reports of Israeli military incursions and operations in southern Syria, particularly in the Quneitra and Daraa governorates, where searches, arrests, and the establishment of checkpoints have also been reported.

  Israel has occupied the Syrian Golan since 1967. Following the fall of the al-Assad government in December 2024, Israeli forces advanced toward the separation zone established by the 1974 agreement and occupied additional positions, including the Syrian area of ​​Mount Hermon.

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