Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

  • Policy Issues
    • Countries
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Non-Proliferation
    • Nuclear Security
    • Biological & Chemical Weapons
    • Defense Spending
    • Missile Defense
    • No First Use
  • Nukes of Hazard
    • Podcast
    • Blog
    • Videos
  • Join Us
  • Press
  • About
    • Staff
    • Boards & Experts
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financials and Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
You are here: Home / Biological and Chemical Weapons / Talk Radio News Service Story on Chemical Weapons in Syria Quotes Philip Coyle

July 10, 2013

Talk Radio News Service Story on Chemical Weapons in Syria Quotes Philip Coyle

Syrian Rebel Stockpile Contained Ordinary Industrial Chemicals, Not Weapons: Experts
By Luke Vargas

UNITED NATIONS (TRNS) – Chemical stockpiles found earlier this week in a Syrian rebel stronghold of Baniyas were not suited for chemical warfare, despite forceful allegations made of their danger by representatives of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and Syrian state media.

The 281 barrels of chemicals seized—described on Monday as “hazardous” and “capable of destroying a whole city, if not a whole country” by Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations—are commonly used in the production of bubble bath, textiles, and medicine, according to chemical weapons experts and scientists.

Allegations of foul play came at the time when the world’s eye is fixed on the potential use of chemical weapons in the Syrian civil war. Western nations including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France have threatened to intervene in the conflict if definitive proof of chemical weaponry is unearthed.

The two-year conflict has claimed an estimated 100,000 lives. But experts doubt if the five substances discovered in Baniyas were fodder for chemical weaponry.

Philip Coyle, Senior Science Fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation, said the chemicals cited by Ja’afari are common in numerous industrial operations.

Click here to read the full story.

Posted in: Biological and Chemical Weapons, Middle East

Tweets by Nukes of Hazard

Recent Posts

  • Iran Is Backing Out of the Nuclear Deal That U.S. Had Already Reneged On for Years June 10, 2022
  • Biden’s mounting nuclear threats from North Korea, Iran June 10, 2022
  • ‘Predictable’ and ‘reinforces’ need for JCPOA: Statement on Iran censure, further limitations June 9, 2022
  • Time to Reset the Narrative on Missile Proliferation? June 3, 2022
  • A World Without Arms Control?  June 1, 2022
Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202.546.0795

Issues

  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Non-Proliferation
  • Nuclear Security
  • Defense Spending
  • Biological and Chemical Weapons
  • Missile Defense
  • No First Use

Countries

  • China
  • France
  • India and Pakistan
  • Iran
  • Israel
  • North Korea
  • Russia
  • United Kingdom

Explore

  • Nukes of Hazard blog
  • Nukes of Hazard podcast
  • Nukes of Hazard videos
  • Front and Center
  • Fact Sheets

About

  • About
  • Meet the Staff
  • Boards & Experts
  • Press
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Financials and Annual Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Council for a Livable World
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© 2022 Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
Privacy Policy

Charity Navigator GuideStar Seal of Transparency