20 OPCW inspectors in Syria to inspect its Chemical weapons

A team of 20 inspectors of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons arrived in Damascus via the Masnaa border crossing. They arrived earlier in Beirut to begin evaluating the Syria’s arsenal of the banned chemical weapons.

After inspections the weapons will be turned over for destruction under UN Security Council resolution 2118 adopted last week.

The Hague-based Organization OPCW is overseeing the implementation of the UN resolution, which was based on a deal worked out by the United States and Russia.

The organization has received documents from the Syrian regime detailing its arsenal, which is believed to include more than 1,000 tons of sarin, mustard gas and other banned chemicals stored at an estimated 45 sites.