Could Syria's WMDs fall into terrorists' hands?
Syria reportedly has one of the world's biggest stockpiles of chemical weapons — and, in the chaos of the country's current mess, extremists may try to grab them

The relentless violence in Syria has opened the door to an influx of Islamist extremists, stoking fears that al Qaeda affiliates will exploit the chaos to establish a foothold in the country — and tap a network of underground bunkers where the regime of President Bashar al-Assad reportedly stores large stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons. Could jihadists grab Assad's weapons of mass destruction? Here, a brief guide:
What WMD does Syria have?
Syria is one of only seven nations that never signed the 1992 Chemical Weapons Convention, and is widely believed to have one of the largest chemical weapons stockpiles in the world. Possibly as a last-resort defense against a takeover, the Assad regime reportedly has been squirreling away anthrax, mustard gas, sarin, and possibly the VX nerve agent for four decades. "The country is a chemical powder keg ready to explode," according to a recent report by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Where are these weapons stored?
The Israeli intelligence website Debka File says Assad's chemical and biological weapons are secured in six underground bunkers. But there might be lethal material stored in as many as 50 other sites, according to The Christian Science Monitor, which would significantly complicate the task of ensuring that terrorists don't nab these weapons.
What is the U.S. doing to prevent this?
American intelligence agencies are monitoring sites where Syria is believed to be producing and storing chemical weapons, and, for now, all appear to be firmly in the hands of the regime. A U.S. official told CNN that it would take 75,000 foreign soldiers to swoop in and secure all of Syria's WMD if the Assad regime falls.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Is anything else being done to prevent a disaster?
President Obama is reportedly trying to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to get behind a plan to have the United Nations Security Council send in 3,000 to 5,000 armed monitors to guard Syria's WMD. "It's going to take an international effort when Assad falls — and he will fall — in order to secure these weapons," Adm. William McRaven, head of the U.S. Special Operations Command, told a congressional committee this spring.
Sources: Christian Science Monitor, CNN, Debka File, Gulf Today, Heritage Foundation, Wall St. Journal
-
Ed Martin: The US attorney taking on Trump's enemies
In the Spotlight He advocated for Jan. 6 defendants. Now Martin leads D.C. prosecutions.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Hot to get older: extreme heat can make people age faster
Under the radar New research shows warming temperatures can affect biological age
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Codeword: March 13, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published