The United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, a global chemical weapons watchdog group, have finished up their confidential report on the use of chemical weapons by the government of Syria as well as the Islamic State in 2014-2015. 

The UN and OPCW have concluded in their year-long investigation, that both the Syrian government and ISIS have used chemical weapons during the crisis in war-torn Syria. They determined that Syrian troops used toxic gas on two occasions, while ISIS has used mustard gas on at least one occasion.

Next, the 15-member United Nations Security Council will convene to discuss the report on August 30th. Of the five member nations with veto power over resolutions, China, the United States, France, Russia, and Great Britain, Russia has protected Syria from Security Council resolutions in the past.

In a 2013 agreement between Russia and the United States, Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons and the security council supported a resolution under chapter 7 of the U.N. charter that would impose sanctions against anyone involved in chemical weapons attacks.

The U.S. Ambassador, Samantha Power has called on the security council to take “strong and swift action” against the Syrian government and IS.

Following the August 30th discussion by the Security Council, the report will be made public.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]

  chemical weapons, isis, report, security council, syria, u.n., united nations, world