Syria has an existing chemical
weapons (CW) stockpile and is thought to be pursuing a biological weapons
(BW) capability. Syria has signed the Biological Weapons Convention
(BWC), though not the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). It has ratified
neither treaty.
Chemical Weapons:
Unlike several of its Arab neighbors
(namely Iran, Iraq and Libya), Syria has never tested CW. However,
Defense Department intelligence suggests that Syria maintains a stockpile
of sarin gas, some of which has been weaponized. It is assumed that
Syria has the capability to launch sarin warheads at Israel. Libya's
CW program is dependent on imports of basic precursor chemicals.
Biological Weapons:
The scope, extent, or even existence
of Syria's biological weapons program is not known, though the U.S. suspects
that Syria is pursuing a BW capability.
Last updated November 16, 2000
Contact Chris
Hellman, research analyst, for more info. on Syria's CBW capability.
