Al-Fassel | 2025-12-02

Assad’s use of chemical weapons has left over 100 suspected contaminated sites scattered across the country.

Iran's support for Assad's regime was a critical factor in enabling the use of chemical weapons during the Syrian conflict.

Through extensive political, military, and logistical backing, Tehran emboldened Assad to defy international norms and escalate the deployment of these weapons.

This led to thousands of Syrian civilians suffering the devastating consequences.

Toxic remnants, located in areas previously targeted or used for chemical weapons production, are often alarmingly close to population centers.

The risk of accidental exposure remains high, endangering lives and livelihoods in communities already ravaged by war.

Dr. Mohammad Katoub, Syria’s representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), has sounded the alarm about this ongoing danger.

Speaking from The Hague, he highlighted the Assad regime’s 12-year history of chemical weapons use. The most recent documented attack occurred in December 2024 in Hama’s countryside.

Survivors of these attacks, like Majid Haiba, continue to suffer from debilitating respiratory and neurological illnesses years after exposure.

Haiba’s harrowing account underscores the long-term toll of these weapons, as hospitals in Damascus refused treatment, forcing him to seek refuge in Jordan.

Efforts to address the contamination are underway, with Syrian authorities inspecting 23 of the suspected 100 sites and seeking international technical cooperation.

However, the scale of the problem remains daunting. The suffering of survivors serves as a stark reminder of the Assad regime’s disregard for human life.

Iran’s role

The Assad regime’s ability to deploy chemical weapons on such a scale would not have been possible without significant external support, particularly from Iran.

Tehran supported Assad with his campaign of chemical attacks against civilians with impunity.

International organizations, such as Human Rights Watch, documented the Assad regime's repeated use of chemical weapons from 2011 until the regime's collapse in 2024.

This includes high-profile attacks like the 2013 sarin massacre in Eastern Ghouta, which killed nearly 1,400 people.

Iran’s backing was instrumental in sustaining Syria's chemical program, shielding Assad diplomatically and supplying the technical know-how needed to produce and deploy these weapons.

The consequences of this support are devastating. Entire communities have been poisoned, survivors endure chronic health issues, and contaminated sites remain a ticking time bomb for future generations.

Iran’s complicity in these atrocities demands accountability, as it has directly contributed to the suffering of countless innocent civilians.