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Updated December 2005
Chemical Chronology
1990-1999
This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.
Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.
1990
A classified Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report claims Syria has two chemical munitions storage depots, at Khan Abu Shamat and Furqlus. It also claims that the Centre D'Etude et Recherche Scientifique, near Damascus, is Syria's primary chemical weapons research facility.
—E.J. Hogendoorn, "A Chemical Weapons Atlas," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 53 (September/October 1997), www.bullatomsci.org. [Note: There is reference to a 1990 DIA report, "Offensive Chemical Warfare Programs in the Middle East," which had been released in sanitized form to the author under the freedom of information act.]
16 January 1990
A US Congressional Research Service publication notes that prior to the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee's announcement, the Army Intelligence Agency included Syria in the list of countries suspected of possessing chemical weapons or being in the process of acquiring them.
—Steven R Bowman, Chemical weapons: a summary of proliferation and arms control activities, CRS Issue Brief (US Library of Congress: Congressional Research Service).
February 1990
Israeli reserve Brigadier-General Aharon Levran claims that Syria has now equipped several of its Scud missiles with chemical warheads.
—Jerusalem Post, 22 February 1990, web.lexis-nexis.com.
March 1990
Director of US Naval Intelligence Rear-Admiral Thomas Brooks names Syria as one of 12 third world states that has either achieved or is developing CW capabilities.
—Prepared statement, Rear Admiral Thomas A Brooks before the Seapower, Strategic, and Critical Materials Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, 14 March 1990, p. 53.
17 July 1990
Israeli Air Force commander Major-General Avihu Bin-Nun seeks to minimize the significance of the threat posed to Israel by Syrian chemical weapons. He notes that Syria did not use chemical weapons in 1973 even though its Army had been defeated and Israeli forces had advanced to within 41 kilometers of Damascus. This represents the first official open source support of claims that Syria possessed chemical weapons in 1973.
—Joshua Brilliant, "Best Defense is a Good Offense says Bin-Nun," Jerusalem Post, 17 July 1990, web.lexis-nexis.com.
23 November 1990
President George Bush meets with Syrian President Hafez Assad in Geneva and claims that Syria has equipped its stockpile of SS-21 missiles with chemical warheads.
—David Makovsky, "Bush-Assad meeting angers Jerusalem," Jerusalem Post, 22 November 1990, web.lexis-nexis.com.
March 1991
Director of US Naval Intelligence Rear-Admiral Thomas Brooks names Syria as one of 14 states that probably possesses chemical weapons.
—Statement of Rear Admiral Thomas A Brooks, USN, Director of Naval Intelligence, before the Seapower, Strategic, and Critical Materials Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, on Intelligence Issues, 7 March 1991, pp. 56-59.
March 1991
Syria has recently started to produce VX nerve agent according to unidentified intelligence sources quoted in the Washington Times.
—Bill Gertz, "North Korean Scuds added to Syrian arsenal," Washington Times, 13 March 1991, p. 3.
October 1991
Israeli Housing Minister Ariel Sharon, speaking at a meeting in Beersheba, says that Syria possesses the world's third-largest arsenal of chemical weapons.
—IDF Radio (Tel Aviv), 1500 hrs GMT 27 October 1991, as translated from the Hebrew in BBC Summary of World Broadcasts 30 October 1991 via FT Profile.
December 1991
Israeli Chief of Staff Ehud Baraq tells an audience of leading Israeli industrialists in Tel Aviv that the chemical weapons capability of Syria is larger than that of Iraq.
—"Investigation: Syrian CW programs," Middle East Defense News (Paris), 28 September 1992, pp. 5-6.
Early 1992
Syria allegedly test-fires chemical warheads.
—"Israeli claims that Syria is making VX nerve gas," Jane's Defence Weekly, 7 May 1997, p. 6, www.janes.com.
15 January 1992
In the U.S. Senate, Director of Central Intelligence Robert Gates testifies on proliferation questions and mentions the existence of a chemical weapons program in Syria.
—Robert Gates, Prepared Testimony, Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, 15 January 1992.
22 January 1992
Addressing a U.S. Senate committee, Director of Central Intelligence Robert Gates states that Syria "apparently is seeking assistance from China and Western firms for an improved capability with chemical warheads."
—Statement of the Director of Central Intelligence before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Central Intelligence Agency, 22 January 1992, p. 12, www.foia.cia.gov.
April 1992
A Syrian MiG-23 fighter-bomber makes the first test of dropping a VX bomb north of Damascus.
—"Syria's 'nerve gas' missiles," Jane's Foreign Report, 31 July 2003, www.janes.com.
30 May 1992
A 45-ton shipment of the nerve gas precursor trimethyl phosphite arrives from India at the premises of Damascus-based Setma Ltd. corporation.
—"Poison Gas for Syria is intercepted," International Herald Tribune, 10 August 1992, p. 2; Michael Rotem, "Indian Chemical Company Won't Stop Shipment To Syria," Jerusalem Post, 22 August 1992, p. 1.
July 1992
At the prompting of the German foreign ministry, authorities in Cyprus stop a German freighter en route to Syria, ordering it to return its cargo to India. The cargo includes 25 containers of the nerve agent precursor trimethyl phosphite, for which the German shippers had not obtained an export license. This is the second half of a $200,000 order placed with an Indian company, United Phosphorus Limited. It is claimed that the chemical is intended for production of the pesticide DDVP.
—"Poison Gas for Syria is intercepted," International Herald Tribune, 10 August 1992, p. 2; Michael Rotem, "Indian Chemical Company Won't Stop Shipment to Syria," Jerusalem Post, 22 August 1992, p. 1.
September 1992
Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Mordechai Gur speaks during a radio interview of the threat posed by Syrian production of chemical weapons, stating that Israel will continue to take action to stop it. "There is no need to panic, but we—those in charge of the defense establishment—must certainly view this with utmost seriousness," he says.
—IDF Radio (Tel Aviv), 0600 hrs GMT 25 September 1992, as translated from the Hebrew in FBIS-NES-92-188, 28 September 1992, p. 27.
September 1992
According to unidentified Israeli sources quoted by the Paris newsletter Middle East Defense News, in May 1992, the Syrian CW stockpile was estimated at "several thousand aerial bombs, filled mostly with sarin," and 50 to 100 ballistic missile warheads. Syria is described as being capable of producing several hundred tons of CW agents per year. Three chemical weapon production sites are identified, one located just north of Damascus, and the second near the industrial city of Homs. The third, in Hama, is believed to be producing VX nerve agent in addition to sarin and tabun while Israeli intelligence is reported to be monitoring several additional "suspicious sites."
—"Investigation: Syrian CW programs," Middle East Defense News (Paris), 28 September 1992, pp. 5-6.
September 1992
Jane's Foreign Report describes Syria as possessing two underground chemical weapons production facilities, one near the village of Safiya (Al-Safira), and the other on the main road to Damascus south of Homs. The report alleges that these facilities were constructed with the aid of West German companies and operated with East German technical assistance. They are supplied with precursors from India and have recently begun to produce VX nerve agent. Production had previously focused on mustard.
—"Syria's Secret Poison Gas Plants," Jane's Foreign Report, 10 September 1992, www.janes.com.
December 1992
At the Paris Conference, Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq Ash-Shar declares that Syria will not sign the Chemical Weapons Convention "because it will not agree to be exposed to the non-conventional threat from Israel."
—Al-Hayat (London), 18 December 1992, web.lexis-nexis.com.
1993
A declassified Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, Chemical Warfare Assessments Syria, claims Syria began developing chemical weapons in the 1970s. This is the only reference to Syria's indigenous efforts beginning so early and is at odds with a 1990 DIA report, Offensive Chemical Warfare Programs in the Middle East which claimed indigenous production efforts only began in the 1980s.
—E J Hogendoorn, "A Chemical Weapons Atlas," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 53 (September/October 1997), www.bulletinarchive.org Syria allegedly receives a shipment of 850 kilograms of methylphosphonyl dichloride (a CW precursor) from Russia on the authority of the chairman of the Presidential Committee on CBW Convention Problems, Lt-Gen Anatoliy Kuntsevich. Interfax (Moscow) in English, 22 October 1995, as in FBIS-SOV-95-204, 23 October 1995, pp. 29-30.
January 1993
In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service presents a report, "New Challenge after the 'Cold War': Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction." The 130-page report includes an account of WMD programs at various stages of development in 16 countries, including the Syrian CW program.
—Baniel Sneider, "Former KGB details Nuclear Arms Spread," Christian Science Monitor, 1 February 1993.
April 1993
Syria is described as possessing the largest and most advanced chemical warfare program in the Arab world. Syria is reported to have begun to produce tube and rocket artillery rounds filled with mustard type blister agents. Syria is also reported to be seeking assistance from Chinese and Western companies in the development of more advanced chemical warheads.
—Michael Eisenstadt, "Syria's Strategic Weapons," Jane's Intelligence Review 5 (April 1993), www.janes.com.
May 1993
Syria has reportedly received assistance from North Korea in the development of its chemical weapons capabilities beginning in the late 1980s.
—Joseph S Bermudez, Jr., "North Korea's Chemical and Biological Warfare Arsenal," Jane's Intelligence Review 5 (May 1993), pp. 225-228, www.janes.com.
16 June 1993
US Defense Secretary Les Aspin, in a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, speaking of the growing challenge faced by Israel from ballistic missiles with nuclear or CBW warheads notes that Syria has chemical weapons and is seeking long-range missiles.
—"Israel safer today than at any time, but new threats loom - Aspin," Defense Daily, 16 June 1993, p. 434.
14 September 1993
In the US House of Representatives, Representative Tom Lantos, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Security, International Organizations and Human Rights, releases a staff compilation of information on "400 companies from 40 countries that have supplied goods and production equipment with dual civilian and military applications" to Libya, Syria, Iran, and North Korea.
—United States Congress, 1st Session, House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on International Security, International Organizations and Human Rights, Hearings on US Security Policy Toward Rogue Regimes, 28 July and 14 September 1993.
2 November 1993
In Germany, Federal Economics Ministry official Hans Dieter Hermann, addressing a meeting of experts in Frankfurt, states that there are chemical weapons programs in Syria and that it is urgently attempting to set up its own production plants.
—Deutsche Press Association from Frankfurt, 1642 hrs GMT 2 November 1993, as translated from the German in JPRS-TND-93-036, 17 November 1993, p. 44.
April 1994
Concern is expressed that North Korea is assisting Syria in the development of chemical and biological weapons and warheads.
—"Chemical and Biological Warfare Programme Special Report," Jane's Intelligence Review 6 (April 1994), p. 192, www.janes.com.
June 1994
In the US Congress, a study of potential military countermeasures against nuclear and CBW weapons proliferation is published by the Congressional Research Service. It includes Syria in a list of 12 states that probably possess chemical weapons.
—John M Collins, Zachary S. Davis, and Steven R Bowman, Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapon Proliferation: Potential Military Countermeasures: Congressional Research Service Report for Congress No. 94-528 S (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1994).
May 1995
Dany Shoham, of the Begin-al-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, asserts that Syria produces hundreds of tons of chemical weapons a year, chiefly sarin and VX. These agents have been loaded into thousands of aircraft bombs that can be delivered by the Sukhoi-22, Sukhoi-24, and MiG- 23 aircraft possessed by Syria. Syria also has, so the newspaper reporting continues, 100-200 CW warheads for its Scud-B missiles.
—D. Shoham, Chemical Weapons in Egypt and Syria: Evolution, Capabilities, Control [in Hebrew], 1995. [Note: English-language synopsis by courtesy of the author.]
September 1995
The Jaffee Centre for Strategic Studies in Israel describes Syria's CW capabilities as follows: personal protective equipment and Soviet-type unit decontamination equipment; stockpiles of various CW agents including mustard gas and the nerve agents sarin and VX (the latter "unconfirmed"); chemically filled aerial bombs and chemical warheads for surface-to-surface missiles.
—The Middle East Military Balance, 1994-1995 (Tel Aviv: Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, 1995).
October 1995
In Russia, the former chairman of the Presidential Committee on CBW Convention Problems, Lt-Gen Anatoliy Kuntsevich, is under criminal investigation in connection with the export of CW-related chemicals to the Middle East. According to the FSS, General Kuntsevich had sold 815 kilograms to Syria in 1993; and the FSS had blocked a further 5-ton shipment in 1994. The chemical is later identified as methylphosphonyl dichloride, a nerve agent precursor.
—Interfax (Moscow) in English, 1250 hrs GMT 22 October 1995, as in FBIS-SOV-95-204, 23 October 1995, pp. 29-30; Vil Mirzayanov, statement before the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, 1 November1995, as transcribed over Federal Document Clearing House, Inc., FDCH Political Transcripts, 1 November 1995, "Hearing on weapons of mass destruction,"web.lexis-nexis.com.
June 1996
In Germany, the managing director of Rose GmbH, Mr. Hans-Joachim Rose, is reported to be under investigation by German authorities for possible involvement in the Syrian chemical weapons program. Mr. Rose is already on trial for illegally exporting chemical equipment to Libya.
—Rudolf Lambrecht and Leo Müller, "Giftgas gegen Israel," Stern, 6 June 1996, pp. 16-21.
June 1996
Syria is building a chemical weapons factory in Aleppo, according to the German weekly magazine Stern, which states that US intelligence officials have passed satellite imagery of the plant to their German counterparts, who are now investigating possible German industrial involvement in the Syrian project.
—Reuter from Bonn as in Jerusalem Post, 5 June 1996, p. 1, "Syria said to be building poison gas plant," via Lexis-Nexis; Rudolf Lambrecht and Leo Müller, "Giftgas gegen Israel," Stern, 6 June 1996, pp. 16-21.
6 June 1996
Responding to allegations that Syria is constructing a chemical weapons production facility, the Minister of Information, Dr. Muhammad Salman, neither confirms nor denies the report. He says, "Syria is entitled to possess any weapons it deems necessary to face up to its enemies."
—Ibrahim 'Awad and Al-Sharq al-Awsat, 6 June 1996, p. 4, as translated from the Arabic in FBIS-NES-96-110, 6 June 1996, p. 39.
September 1996
Western and Israeli Intelligence sources reveal that Syria has received at least two consignments of material for the manufacture of chemical weapons through the Greek Cypriot port of Limassol. The two consignments apparently originated in Russia and Cuba. However, it is believed that several Western European companies have also sent material to Syria via the same route.
—"Syria's Chemical Weapons - The Cyprus Connection," CDISS News and Views - September 1996, www.cdiss.org.
22 November 1996
Syria's CW stockpile is described as comprising thousands of aerial bombs filled with chemical agents and between 100 and 200 chemical warheads for Scud-B and Scud-C surface-to-surface missiles.
—Jerusalem Post, 22 November 1996, web.lexis-nexis.com.
April 1997
Israeli officials claim that, with Russian assistance, Syria has begun to produce VX nerve agent and is in the initial stages of preparing missiles warheads to deliver the agent. Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai states that he has discussed this development with the US and UK governments. The Israeli claims are vigorously denied by Syrian sources, which respond that Israeli is attempting to distract attention from its hard-line on peace negotiations.
—"Israeli claims that Syria is making VX nerve gas," Jane's Defence Weekly, 7 May 1997, p. 6, www.janes.com; David Rudge and Michal Yudelman, "Levy, Mordechai warn Syria over nerve gas" Jerusalem Post, 30 April 1997, www.jpost.com.
29 April 1997
The Chemical Weapons Convention enters into force. Syria remains outside the regime.
—Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, www.opcw.org.
2 May 1997
President Assad states that if Israel will rid itself of nuclear weapons, Arab states will be ready to get rid of other weapons. This statement is widely regarded as an oblique confirmation of the possession of chemical weapons.
—Al-Hayat (London), 2 May 1997, pp. 1, 6.
September 1997
US Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) officials claim that Syria will begin producing chemical bomblets for Scud-C missiles at a new facility near Damascus within months. The facility is described by Israeli intelligence officials as co-located with the Centre D'Etudes et de Recherche Scientifique. The current Syrian arsenal is described as being composed of unitary chemical warheads. It is also claimed that Scud-B missiles have been fitted with VX warheads since 1979-1982. [Note: Passage is unclear and may simply refer to the missiles rather than the warheads.]
—Paul Beaver, "Syria to Make Chemical Bomblets for Scud C's," Jane's Defence Weekly, 3 September 1997, p. 3.
April 1998
A description is provided of one of Syria's alleged CW production facilities near the city of Homs. It is co-located with a large petro-chemical facility.
—"Middle East, CW Production Site," Jane's Intelligence Review 10 (April 1998), p. 25, www.janes.com.
May 1998
Israeli military intelligence sources claim that Syria has moved two Scud-C units, believed to be equipped with chemical warheads, into the Damascus region. Reference is also made to Syria efforts to develop "novichok," which can supposedly be produced using unrestricted chemicals.
—"Syrian Scuds Move South, We Reveal What Target In Israel They Will Be Able To Hit," Jane's Foreign Report, 7 May 1998, www.janes.com.
May 1998
Israeli sources claim, apparently on the basis of satellite images, that Syria has carried out a live agent test of VX mounted on a Scud-C missile.
—"The Great Arsenal of Autocracy: Syria's Weapons of Mass Destruction," Middle East Intelligence Bulletin (February 1999), www.meib.org.
19 May 1998
Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai briefs the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee that Syrian long-range, ground-to-ground missiles, including the Scud C, have been equipped with VX nerve agent, which Mordechai said changes the strategic balance between Israel and Syria.
—"Mordechai Warns of Syrian Missile Development," Ha'aretz, 19 May 1998, www.haaretzdaily.com.
June 1998
A senior Israeli military intelligence officer tells the Knesset Committee on Foreign Affairs and Security that Syria continues to manufacture Scud C missiles and will soon have the capability to make VX nerve agent.
—"Syria Close to Producing Nerve Gas," Ha'aretz, 24 June 1998, www.haaretzdaily.com.
July 1998
Israeli intelligence sources allege that Syria is about to locally produce quantities of VX agent. The item also alleges, though without providing details, that Syria has previously received VX from foreign sources.
—"Syria to make VX gas, says Israel," Jane's Defence Weekly, 1 July 1998, p. 7, www.janes.com.
September 1999
Israeli Intelligence Chief Amos Malka states that "[T]he Syrians are manufacturing and developing more ground-to-ground missiles, and I think we have to suppose that they also have chemical weapons."
—"Warning on Syrian Chemical Weapons," Jane's Intelligence Digest, 1 October 1999, www.janes.com.
Late October 1999
The Syrian Air Force conducts a chemical weapons test using an unidentified live agent dropped from a MiG-23 fighter-bomber.
—Arieh O'Sullivan and Itim Adds, "Syria tested chemical bomb," Jerusalem Post, 28 November 1999, p. 1.
This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and
does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently
verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2010 by MIIS.
