A News Agency

The Syrian Arab Republic and the French Republic issued a joint statement marking the 13th anniversary of the chemical weapon attacks that targeted Eastern Ghouta and Muadamiyat al-Sham in the Damascus countryside on August 21, 2013.

The statement commemorated those who lost their lives in the attacks and conveyed condolences and solidarity to the victims’ families. The two countries reiterated their commitment to supporting efforts to uncover the truth of the attacks, ensure justice and hold those responsible accountable.

The Syria-France statement said that more than 200 chemical weapon attacks had taken place in Syria from late 2012 until the fall of the former regime in December 2024, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,500 people, including women and children.

The statement said Syria had requested to join the International Partnership Against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons, while France welcomed the move as an initiative aimed at strengthening accountability and justice.

The two countries also highlighted the role of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in uncovering facts related to the former regime’s chemical weapons program, identifying remaining elements and destroying them.

The statement welcomed the recent restoration of Syria’s rights and privileges within the OPCW and emphasized the shared commitment to strengthening the chemical weapons prohibition regime, preserving accountability and ensuring that similar crimes are not repeated.