Syrian scientists made sarin used in chemical attacks, France claims
France says that since 2014, Syria has sought to acquire dozens of tonnes of isopropanol, a key ingredient of sarin, even though it committed to destroying its chemical arsenal in October 2013
The new evidence – contained in a six-page National Evaluation prepared by French intelligence – represents the most detailed public account of Syria’s alleged use of the deadly nerve agent sarin in the attack on the town of Khan Sheikhun.
The French report casts fresh doubts on the efficacy of what at the time was billed as a landmark US-Russian chemical weapons pact – signed by then US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in late 2013 – that was touted as practically eliminating Syria’s “declared” chemical weapons programme. France also said that since 2014, Syria has sought to acquire dozens of tonnes of isopropanol, a key ingredient of sarin, even though it committed to destroying its chemical arsenal in October 2013.
“France assesses that major doubts remain as to the accuracy, exhaustiveness and sincerity of the decommissioning of Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal,” the paper stated. “In particular, France assesses that Syria has maintained a capacity to produce or stock sarin, despite its commitment to destroy all stocks and capacities.”
