Abdelhalim Khaddam, the former Vice President of Syria, affirmed that President Bashar al-Assad’s regime maintains a large stockpile of chemical weapons, considering them its primary weapon after its failure to establish a nuclear reactor for nuclear bomb production in the 1970s.
Khaddam stated in a phone call with Al Arabiya news channel on Wednesday evening, “It is difficult to know the storage location of these weapons, especially for those outside the narrow circle surrounding the regime,” suggesting they might be in mountainous areas.
He pointed out that Bashar al-Assad has no emotional or national connection to the Syrian people and does not feel any national responsibility towards his countrymen. This lack of connection, according to Khaddam, pushes him to commit any crime without hesitation.
Khaddam explained that there is a section in the Syrian army responsible for chemical warfare, with one part focused on manufacturing and another specialized in using these weapons. Additionally, there are advanced research centers where specialized scientists work.
He continued by stating that Bashar al-Assad declared the use of internationally prohibited weapons in Homs and Aleppo, adding, “Bashar al-Assad is not restrained by any deterrent from using chemical weapons because he failed to defeat the revolution. Therefore, he resorts to weapons of mass destruction, such as cluster bombs and long-range missiles.”
Former Vice President Khaddam concluded by asserting that the international community is responsible for the continuity of the current Syrian regime.
