The United Kingdom used a UN Security Council meeting on 10 March 2026 to restate its position on Syria’s chemical weapons dossier. Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator, welcomed a new OPCW attribution report, backed continued investigation work, and called for further international support to eliminate remaining Assad-era chemical weapons.
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating chemical weapons in Syria after a statement delivered at the UN Security Council on 10 March 2026.
UK Statement at the UN Security Council
The UK said it remains committed to eradicating the threat posed by chemical weapons in Syria. The statement placed that position within the context of the UN Security Council’s ongoing discussion of Syria and international accountability processes.
The statement also said recent cooperation between the Syrian government and the OPCW has created an opportunity to address Assad-era chemical weapons. The UK said progress depends on continued practical support from the international community.
- Reaffirmed UK commitment to eliminating chemical weapons in Syria
- Set the statement within the UN Security Council meeting on Syria
- Linked current progress to international cooperation and accountability
OPCW Investigation Report Findings
The UK welcomed the fifth OPCW Investigation and Identification Team report, published on 22 January 2026. According to the statement, the report found reasonable grounds to believe that the Syrian Arab Air Force under the former Assad regime carried out a chlorine attack on Kafr Zeita on 1 October 2016.
The statement said the attack injured at least 35 people and added to the existing body of evidence on chemical weapons use by the former Assad regime. The UK also said the report was the first attribution report to receive direct support from a Syrian government.
OPCW Report Findings
| Report body | OPCW Investigation and Identification Team |
| Publication date | 22 January 2026 |
| Incident cited | Chlorine attack on Kafr Zeita on 1 October 2016 |
| Attributed actor | Syrian Arab Air Force under the former Assad regime |
| Reported impact | At least 35 people were injured |
Progress Toward Chemical Weapons Accountability
The UK said the report supports a wider record of evidence relating to chemical weapons use in Syria. It described the publication as a step toward truth and justice and thanked OPCW technical secretariat staff for their work on attribution.
The statement also said the UK is looking ahead to the completion of other ongoing and future investigations into chemical weapons attacks in Syria. It presented accountability as part of the broader effort to remove the remaining threat.
- Welcomed direct Syrian government support for the attribution report
- Thanked OPCW technical secretariat staff for attribution work
- Backed further ongoing and future investigations in Syria
International Support for Chemical Weapons Elimination
The UK said the opportunity to eradicate Assad-era chemical weapons should not be missed. It also said additional financial and in-kind support is still needed to ensure safe, verifiable, and rapid elimination work.
According to the statement, the United Kingdom has contributed more than $3.8 million to OPCW Syria Missions since the fall of Assad. The UK also said it will continue to provide technical expertise to both Syria and the OPCW, while encouraging other States Parties to contribute financially.
International Support Commitments
| UK contribution | More than $3.8 million to OPCW Syria Missions since the fall of Assad |
| Support requested | Additional financial and in-kind assistance from the international community |
| UK role | Continued technical expertise for Syria and the OPCW |
| Purpose | Safe, verifiable, and rapid elimination of Assad-era chemical weapons |
Stakeholder Comments
Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator said;
“The United Kingdom remains resolute in its commitment to eradicating the threat posed by chemical weapons in Syria. We encourage other States Parties who have not previously supported Syria-related destruction activities financially to contribute at the earliest opportunity.”
In Conclusion
The UK’s statement presented the latest OPCW report as further support for accountability efforts linked to chemical weapons use in Syria.
It also set out the government’s view that continued funding, technical assistance, and international cooperation are needed to eliminate remaining Assad-era chemical weapons and support further investigative work through established international bodies.
Sources: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News, an independent news organization delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analyzed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
