WASHINGTON
The destruction of Syria's chemical weapons facilities is moving well below the pace the U.S. would like, the White House said Wednesday.
“Progress toward destroying all remaining chemical weapons reduction facilities in Syria have been agonizingly slow”, spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters.
He said that the Obama administration is concerned by “reports” that international inspectors have received about chemical weapons still being used in the country.
“We're aware that the OPCW continues to receive credible allegations that the use of chemical weapons in Syria is still taking place”, he said, referring to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons – the agency charged with removing Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile under a 2013 agreement.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad agreed to hand over his declared chemical weapons stockpile after Washington threatened to invade the country following a disputed sarin gas attack on the outskirts of Damascus in August 2013.
“Attempts by the OPCW to resolve some gaps and inconsistencies in Syria's declaration of their chemical weapons have gone unresolved”, Earnest said.
Allegations of chemical weapons use, particularly chlorine gas, have been launched at the Assad government and Syrian opposition forces.
At least 55 civilians were injured last week after the Syrian government allegedly attacked the northern province of Idlib using chlorine gas, according to the London-based Syrian Network for Human Rights.
