Chemical weapons watchdog warns against strikes on Syria’s stockpiles

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — Strikes on Syrian chemical weapons sites risk contaminating and destroying valuable evidence, the head of an international watchdog warned on Thursday, admitting that the group did not yet know whether sites have been affected.

Israel said on Monday that it had struck “remaining chemical weapons or long-range missiles and rockets in order that they will not fall in the hands of extremists” in Syria. The attack came amid widespread global concern about the fate of Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons since the dramatic overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday.

The director-general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Fernando Arias, said his group was “following closely” reports of strikes on military facilities.   (Read More)