This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.

Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

July 2000
The UK government publishes its third annual report on Strategic Export Controls, which reveals that export licenses for Australia Group chemicals were issued for destinations in Syria and at least 54 other countries.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 49 (September 2000), p. 42.

20 October 2000
The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Jose Bustani, addresses the UN General Assembly and calls upon Middle East nations to accede to the Chemical Weapons Convention. In response, the Syrian delegate draws attention to the threat posed to his nation by Israeli nuclear weapons.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 50 (December 2000), pp. 43-44.

11 October 2000
Jane's Defense Weekly publishes an article on the topic of Syria's alleged chemical weapons programs that draws on Israeli and US sources. Unnamed US Department of Defense officials are quoted as saying: "if they [Syria] haven't already weaponized a VX warhead, they are pretty close." The article also repeats claims that Syria flight-tested a Scud-B missile fitted with a warhead designed to disperse VX nerve agent in early 1998. [This article is the latest in a series of reports quoting Israeli sources alleging that Syria has deployed or is about to deploy VX nerve agent on missiles aimed at Israel: see May 1995, May 1998].
--"USA, Israel say Syria continues with WMD," Jane's Defense Weekly, 11 October 2000, <http://www.janes.com>.

January 2001
US Defense Secretary William Cohen releases the third edition of "Proliferation: Threat and Response," which includes a section describing Syrian CW capabilities. Syria is said to have a stockpile of sarin and to be developing VX.
--Proliferation Threat and Response (Washington, DC: Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2001), p. 45.

1 July 2001
Syria tests a Scud-B missile fitted with a simulated chemical warhead. The missile was fired from Haleb in northern Syria, traveling to a target area 300km away in southern Syria.
--David C. Isby, "Syrian Scud Carried A Simulated Chemical Warhead," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, 1 September 2001, <http://www.janes.com>.

December 2001
US officials state that if Syria has not "already weaponized a VX warhead, they are pretty close."
--Steve Rodan and Andrew Koch, "Israel warns of Syria's work on CW-tipped Scuds," Jane's Defense Weekly, 12 December 2001, <http://www.janes.com>.

9 March 2002
The Los Angeles Times prints extracts from the classified "Nuclear Posture Review," which was submitted to the Congress in January 2002. The review states that US nuclear weapons could be used in three types of situation: against targets able to withstand non-nuclear attack; in retaliation for attacks with nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons; or "in the event of surprising military developments." The review also includes a list of seven countries against which US nuclear weapons could be used, including Syria.
--Paul Richter, "US Works Up Plan For Using Nuclear Arms," Los Angeles Times, 9 March 2002, p. A1.

18 April 2002
In the US Senate, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) introduce the Syria Accountability Act of 2002 (S 2215). The act states that "the government of Syria should halt the development and deployment of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles and cease the development and production of biological and chemical weapons." The act would make it US policy that "Syria's acquisition of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs threaten the security of the Middle East and the national interests of the United States." Sanctions are also provided for in the act.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 56 (June 2002), p. 44.

6 May 2002
US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton delivers a speech in which he draws attention to Syria's possession of weapons of mass destruction and its ties to terrorist groups.
--Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton, Beyond the Axis of Evil: Additional Threats from Weapons of Mass Destruction, Remarks to the Heritage Foundation, 6 May 2002, <http://www.state.gov/t/us/rm/9962.htm>.

June 2002
Syria is preparing to begin serial production of an extended range version of the Scud-C ballistic missile. The missile is believed to be fitted with a warhead specially designed to accommodate biological or chemical warfare agents that separates from the missile after engine cutoff.
--Steve Rodan and Andrew Koch, "Syria Preparing to Build Extended-Range Scud," Jane's Defense Weekly, 19 June 2002, <http://www.janes.com>.

23 December 2002
During a television appearance, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says: "[w]e believe that biological and chemical weapons that Saddam Hussein wanted hidden were transferred to Syria." The Prime Minister subsequently indicated that this information had not yet been confirmed. In Iraq UNMOVIC inspectors continue their efforts to verify Iraqi declarations on the status of its WMD programs.
--Paul H. B. Shin, "Saddam Hiding Arms in Syria - Sharon," Daily News (New York), 25 December 2002, p. 9.

March 2003
Sources in Jerusalem claim that Britain has informed Israel that it has warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad not to store Iraq's WMD in his country or cause an escalation along the Lebanese border with Hizballah's help. The warning was relayed to Bashar al-Assad by a special British emissary several days prior.
--"Israeli Political Sources: UK Warned Syria Not To Hide Iraqi WMD, Heat Up Border," GMP20030320000181 Jerusalem Voice of Israel Network B in Hebrew, 20 March 2003.

5 to 6 April 2003
It is alleged that during the night of 5 to 6 April 2003, Saddam Hussein's entire chemical weapons arsenal, which reportedly includes hundreds of artillery rockets for truck mounted Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), travels from Tikrit in Iraq to eastern Syria. Reportedly the weapons are subsequently stored near the town of Kamishli (Al-Qamishli), a town on the Syria - Turkey border.
[This report has been included for completeness but should be treated as of uncertain value pending more substantial confirmation.]
--Yossef Bodansky, The Secret History of the Iraq War (New York: Regan Books, 2004), pp. 232 and 438.

7 April 2003
It is revealed that the United Kingdom exported unspecified "toxic chemical precursors" to Syria in 2000 and 2001 that could be used for the manufacture of chemical weapons despite the existence of tight export controls on such materials.
--Douglas Davis, "UK said to have sold chemical, night vision equipment to Syria," Jerusalem Post, 7 April 2003, p. 7.

9 April 2003
US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton tells a press conference in Rome, "I think Syria is a good case where I hope that they will conclude that the chemical weapons program...that they have been pursuing are things that they should give up...It is a wonderful opportunity for Syria to forswear the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction...."
--"US tells Iran, Syria, N. Korea 'learn from Iraq'," Reuters, 9 April 2003, <http://www.reuters.com>.

10 April 2003
The CIA releases its unclassified "Biannual Report on WMD Proliferation." It repeats previous assessments that Syria possesses a stockpile of weaponized sarin and is pursuing the development of other more lethal and persistent CW agents.
--Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions, 1 January through 30 June 2002, (Washington, DC: Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, 2003), <http://www.cia.gov>.

13 April 2003
In a briefing to reporters at the White House US President George W. Bush says: "we believe there are chemical weapons in Syria." He also warns that "we expect cooperation" from Syria in respect to this and other issues such as Iraq.
--"Bush says Syria has chemical weapons, country must cooperate over Iraq," AFX European Focus, 13 April 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

14 April 2003
Speaking with reporters, Osama al-Baz, a close adviser of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, states that there is "a great difference between Syria and Iraq under Saddam Hussein." He adds that Egypt is sure that Syria does not have chemical weapons.
--"Egypt rejects US pressure on Syria over alleged chemical weapons," Agence France Presse, 15 April 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

15 April 2003
Speaking in Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher responds to a reporter's question about proposed US sanctions on Syria related to that country's alleged pursuit of chemical weapons with the following statement: "Egypt rejects all threats against an Arab state." He also says: "we feel threats are not an appropriate way of dealing with a problem, if there really is one." Responding to speculation that the US might be considering military action against Syria now that it has concluded the initial conquest of Iraq, Maher says: "Arab countries and the international community are unaminous on [the need] to avoid what happened in Iraq being repeated once again."
--"Egypt rejects US pressure on Syria over alleged chemical weapons," Agence France Presse, 15 April 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

15 April 2003
Speaking on French television, France's European Affairs Minister Noelle Lenoir says that France does not have any proof to support US accusations against Syria. The minister adds: "the world is dangerous enough, without our targeting one country or another on the question of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction." The statement is made in response to claims made by US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld that Syria has tested chemical weapons in the previous 15 months.
--"France has no proof that Syria tested chemical weapons - Minister," AFX European Focus, 15 April 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

16 April 2003
On behalf of the 22-state Arab League, Syria introduces a draft resolution in the UN Security Council calling for all states in the region to join all three anti-WMD treaties: the NPT, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
--"Syria asks UN to put heat on Israel's nuclear arms," Reuters, 16 April 2003, <http://www.reuters.com>.

17 April 2003
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Sharaa says that Syria will not allow inspections of its military arsenal and territory in order to refute US accusations of chemical weapons possession. The minister is speaking after a meeting in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. He further states that Syria "will only contribute, with its [Arab] brothers and the countries of the whole world, to transforming the middle east into a region devoid of all weapons of mass destruction, chemical, biological or nuclear." This statement further underlines the Syrian position that all WMD issues in the region need to be addressed at the same time, including Israel's possession of WMD, rather than on a case by case basis.
--"Iraq War: Syria will not allow weapons inspections - Update," AFX European Focus, 17 April 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

28 April 2003
Speaking at a press conference in the Hague, US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control Stephen Rademaker says: "[t]he US strongly supports universality and we are concerned about states not party to the Convention (for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) like Syria, Libya and North Korea that have an active chemical weapons program." Asked about Syria, Mr. Rademaker says that he would "absolutely" support a mission by the OPCW's director to convince Damascus to join the Convention.
--"US concerned over Syria, Libya and North Korea seeking chemical weapons," Agence France Presse, 28 April 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

3 May 2003
US Secretary of State Colin Powell visits Damascus to discuss US-Syria relations and US concerns regarding Syria's support of terrorism and pursuit of WMD. Speaking with reporters prior to his meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, Secretary Powell dismisses a Syrian proposal to make the Middle East a zone free of weapons of mass destruction labeling the proposal "political." He says; "[i]t has always been a US goal that conditions should be created in this part of the world where no nation would have a need for weapons of mass destruction." "I am not supportive at the moment of a particular declaration that might be put forward for political purposes or to highlight the issue."
--" Powell trashes Syrian WMD proposal, for now," The Statesman (India), 4 May 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

31 May 2003
US President George Bush announces a new effort to combat weapons of mass destruction (WMD) called the Proliferation Security Initiative. The goal is to work with other concerned states to develop new means to disrupt the proliferation trade at sea, in the air, and on land. The initiative reflects the need for a more dynamic, proactive approach to the global proliferation problem. It envisions partnerships of states working in concert, employing their national capabilities to develop a broad range of legal, diplomatic, economic, military, and other tools to interdict threatening shipments of WMD and missile-related equipment and technologies.
--NTI website; "Transcript - Bush Urges NATO Nations to Unite in Fight against Terrorism," 31 May 2003, <http://www.nti.org>.

July 2003
A senior Israeli defense source claims that "at least 100 Syrian long-range ballistic missiles, equipped with VX" are aimed at Israel.
--"Syria's 'nerve gas' missiles," Jane's Foreign Report, 31 July 2003, <http://www.janes.com>.

16 September 2003
US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton gives testimony before Congress in which he describes Syria's arsenal of chemical weapons as the largest in the Arab world. Mr. Bolton also indicates that the United States is continuing to investigate rumors that Iraq transferred its WMD to Syria prior to the US invasion in March 2003, which he describes as unconfirmed but a cause for concern.
--Bill Gertz, "US Probe focuses on Syria Weapons," Washington Times, 17 September 2003, <http://www.washingtontimes.com>.

3 October 2003
Responding to reporters questions, the head of the US Iraq Survey Group (ISG), David Kay, says that the group has "multiple reports from Iraqis of substances being moved across borders." Kay further notes that there were movements of Iraqi military and scientific officials to Syria and Jordan before and immediately after the beginning of the war. Kay also says that the ISG does not know if any of these movements were directly related to Iraqi WMD programs.
--Justin Cole, "Kay says Iraqi WMD may have been moved abroad," Agence France Presse, 3 October 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

6 October 2003
Israeli aircraft bomb and destroy a facility 14 miles from Damascus that is described as a training facility for Islamic Jihad terrorists. This is the first raid on Syria by Israeli forces since 1982.
--Rachel Walley, Israeli's target Syrian base," Birmingham Post, 6 October 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

8 October 2003
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan indicates that the Bush administration has ended its two-year long opposition to passage of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act. In the US Congress, the House International Relations Committee approves the bill 33 to 2, freeing it for a vote in the House of Representatives. The bill has 275 co-sponsors in the House
--"Bush clears way for Syrian sanctions bill," Agence France Presse, 8 October 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>. Glenn Kessler, "Support grows for sanctions on Syria; Bill would give Bush six options," Washington Post, 8 October 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

10 October 2003
US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton gives a speech in London in which he links Syria with the so-called Axis of Evil. In his speech, Bolton accuses Syria of sponsoring terrorism and pursuing WMD. Bolton also included Libya and Cuba in the Axis of Evil.
--Michael Evans and Richard Beeston, "US extends axis of evil to Syria, Libya and Cuba," The Times (London), 10 October 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

15 October 2003
The US House of Representatives passes the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act. The vote is 398 to 4. The bill requires the president to enact at least two of a possible six economic sanctions against Syria if Damascus fails to end its alleged support for terrorism and its suspected efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.
--Stephanie Griffith, "US House of representatives votes to sanction Syria for alleged terror ties," Agence France Presse, 16 October 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

16 October 2003
Speaking in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher describes impending US moves to apply sanctions on Syria as inadmissable and unjustifiable.
--"Egypt denounces US moves to sanction Syria," Agence France Presse, 16 October 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

17 October 2003
The Organization of the Islamic Conference concludes its tenth summit in the city of Putrajaya, Malaysia by issuing a special declaration denouncing "the American Congress' Accountability Act to impose unilateral sanctions on Syria."
--Kazi Mahmood, "Malaysia: OIC slams Syria sanctions, but offers no Iraq resolution," IPS-Inter Press Service, 17 October 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

28 October 2003
Speaking with reporters, General James R. Clapper Jr., head of the US National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA), suggests that evidence of Iraqi WMD programs was moved to Syria, and perhaps other countries, prior to the US invasion of March 2003. Describing his position as an educated hunch, Clapper notes that US intelligence tracked large numbers of Iraqi trucks moving into Syria in early 2003 and that these "may have been people leaving the scene, and unquestionably, I am sure, material."
--John J. Lumpkin, "Intelligence chief suggests Iraq's WMD moved outside country," Associated Press, 28 October 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Douglas Jehl, "The Struggle for Iraq: Weapons Search; Iraqis Removed Arms Material, U.S. Aide Says," New York Times, 28 October 2003, Section A p. 10, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

30 October 2003
In testimony before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. Cofer Black, the State Department counter-terrorism coordinator, says: "[w]hile there is currently no information indicating that the Syrian government has transferred WMD to terrorist organizations or would permit such groups to acquire them, Syria's ties to numerous terrorist groups underlie the reasons for our continued attention."
--Stephanie Griffith, "Despite US pressure, Syria continues to support terror: State Department," Agence France Presse, 31 October 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

30 October 2003
Mr. William J. Burns, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, provides written testimony to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in which he states: "Syria is fully committed to expanding and improving its chemical and biological weapons programs, which it believes serve as a deterrent to regional adversaries."
--Statement by Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William J. Burns to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 30 October 2003, <http://foreign.senate.gov>.

10 November 2003
The US Central Intelligence Agency submits its "Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions," for 1 January Through 30 June 2003 in accordance with S.721 of the FY1997 Intelligence Authorization Act. In respect to Syria, the report states that until June 2003, "Syria continued to seek CW-related expertise from foreign sources during the reporting period. Damascus already held a stockpile of the nerve agent sarin, but apparently tried to develop more toxic and persistent nerve agents. Syria remained dependent on foreign sources for key elements of its CW program, including precursor chemicals and key production equipment."
-- Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions (Washington, DC: Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, 2003), p. 6, <http://www.cia.gov>.

11 November 2003
With an 89 to 4 vote, the US Senate passes the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives on 15 October 2003; the Senate version of the bill is slightly different. It includes a provision allowing the president to invoke a national security waiver asserting that it is in the US interest not to sanction Syria.
--Carl Hulse, "Senate Follows House Vote and Votes to Impose Sanctions against Syria," New York Times, 12 November 2003, p. A10.

12 November 2003
Responding to the US Senate's passage of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, Syria's Al-Baath newspaper observes, "those who want any useful dealings with Syria must understand that only dialogue can bear fruit."
--Roueida Mabardi, "Syria caught between defiance and fear of US sanctions threat," Agence France Presse, 12 November 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

13 November 2003
Syrian Information Minister Ahmad al-Hassan issues a statement in which he says: "Syria will not close the door on dialogue with the American administration, even if the hawks in that administration want to push for escalation in an unjustifiable way." This statement is the first direct response by a Syrian official to the US Senate's passage of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act.
--Roueida Mabardi, "Syria to pursue dialogue with US after sanctions move," Agence France Presse, 13 November 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

20 November 2003
The US House of Representatives votes 408 to 8 to accept the US Senate version of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act.
--"Legislation: Congress clears Syria sanctions," Facts on File World News, 20 November 2003, p. 956A2, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

2 December 2003
Speaking at a conference organized by the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis and the Fletcher School's International Security Studies Program, US Undersecretary for Arms Control and International Security John R. Bolton issues a warning to Syria and a number of other states. Mr Bolton says: "Rogue states such as Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya and Cuba, whose pursuit of weapons of mass destruction makes them hostile to US interests, will learn that their covert programs will not escape detection or consequences." He went on to warn: "[w]hile we will pursue diplomatic solutions whenever possible, the United States and its allies are also willing to deploy more robust techniques, such as the interdiction and siezure of illict goods. If rogue states are not willing to follow the logic of nonproliferation norms, they must be prepared to face the logic of adverse consequences."
--"Washington warns five countries over weapons of mass destruction," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 3 December 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

9 December 2003
After five years of negotiations, Syrian and European negotiators reach an agreement in principle on an association accord. The chief EU negotiator, Mr. Christian Leffler notes: "Syria and the EU have reached an accord on all points, even the political ones." The next stage in the process is approval of the agreement by political authorities. A successful conclusion of the agreement is necessary for Syria's participation in efforts to create an EU-Mediterranean free trade area by 2010.
--Roueida Mabardi, "Syria, EU agree in principle on association accord," Agence France Presse, 9 December 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

12 December 2003
US President George W. Bush signs the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act into law. He also issues a statement that his "approval of the act does not constitute my adoption of the various statements of policy in the act as US foreign policy."
--Jennifer Loven, "Bush signs Syria sanctions bill," Associated Press, 12 December 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

19 December 2003
In a surprise development, Libya announces that it will join the Chemical Weapons Convention, destroy its existing stockpiles of chemical weapons, and end its pursuit of all WMD, and long-range missiles.
--David E. Sanger, Judith Miller "Libya to give up arms programs, Bush announces," New York Times, 20 December 2003, Section A p. 1, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

22 December 2003
In the wake of Libya's repudiation of WMD, reports emerge that British Prime Minister Tony Blair has ordered British diplomats to negotiate with Syria and Iran on a handover of their alleged arsenals of chemical and biological weapons. A British diplomat is quoted as saying: "We are engaged in similar processes to those which got results in Libya. There is a lot going on behind the scenes and we are hopeful of progress."
--"Blair's bid to rid Iran and Syria of WMDs," The Daily Record (Scotland), 22 December 2003, p. 4, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

23 December 2003
The United Kingdom indicates that it is trying to secure the support of France and Germany in order to apply pressure to Syria on the issues of WMD, terrorism, and Iraq. One goal of the proposed pressure is to secure Syria's accession to the Chemical Weapons Convention. It is also revealed that Britain and Germany have warned the European Commission, which recently completed technical discussions with Syria on a trade agreement, that they want to see stronger language in the proposed agreement on the topic of WMD.
--Ian Black, "UK plan to pressure Syria on weapons," The Guardian, 23 December 2003, p. 1, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

24 December 2003
US Secretary of State Colin Powell is quoted as calling on Syria to emulate the example of Libya and repudiate its pursuit of WMD and support of terrorism. Powell adds that Syria needs "to get out of the hole that you have been in for all these years."
--Maxim Kniazkov, "US advises rogue states to "get smart" and follow Libya's example," Agence France Presse, 24 December 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

24 December 2003
Following a summit meeting in the Egyptian town of Sharm El-Sheikh, the presidents of Egypt and Syria issue a joint statement that includes language on the issue of WMD. "The two presidents underlined their call to eliminate weapons of mass destruction from the region and to work jointly to achieve this goal within the framework of the United Nations and other international bodies. Events in the region have shown the importance of making the Middle East, Israel included, a region free from all WMD." The statement makes no mention of alleged WMD in either of the two countries and is generally perceived as directed at Israel.
--"Egypt, Syria presidents urge mideast free of weapons of mass destruction," Agence France Presse, 24 December 2003, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

5 January 2004
Syrian President Bashar Assad is reported to have said that Syria is entitled to defend itself by acquiring its own chemical and biological deterrent. His also says that any deal to destroy Syria's chemical and biological capability would come about only if Israel agreed to abandon its nuclear arsenal.
--"Syria ties disarmament to Israel," Calgary Herald, 6 January 2004, p. A5, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

6 January 2004
Responding to Syrian President Bashar Assad's call for Israel to give up its undeclared arsenal of nuclear weapons [see 5 January 2004] a senior British government official says: "Israel is in a unique position as the only state whose very existence is threatened. There is no point is asking for a WMD-free Middle East while there are countries parading missiles with a sign up the side saying Death to Israel." An additional unnamed "senior Western diplomatic source said: "They [the Syrians] have to make a decision about whether [their] chemical weapons will make much of a difference against the Israelis, or whether they would not be in a better position by saying, 'we're giving it up and now we want a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction.'"
--Anton La Guardia, "Syria rebuffed by Washington, London: President Assad told to give up weapons of mass destruction," National Post (Canada), 7 January 2004, p. A10.

9 January 2004
Exiled Syrian human rights campaigner Nijar Nijjof appears on Britain's Channel Five News claiming that Iraqi weapons of mass destruction were moved to Syria in the months prior to the US led invasion of March 2003. Nijjof claims that a senior Syrian military intelligence source has told him that Iraqi weapons of mass destruction were smuggled into Syria in ambulances under the supervision of Brigadier Zoul-Himla Shalish, chief of the presidential guards. Nijjof asserted that the Iraqi chemical and biological weapons are now stored at three locations in central Syria, near the cities of Hama and Homs; a bunker controlled by the Syrian Department for Document Security (Bureau 489) built into a mountain near the town of Misyaf; a bunker 20 meters (66 feet) beneath a radar base in the town of Chenchar; a "large factory workshop" making missiles and warheads in the village of Tal Snan.
--James Lyons, "Saddam's weapons smuggled to Syria," Liverpool Daily Post, 10 January 2004, p. 4.

9 January 2004
Responding to the claims of Syrian dissident Nijar Nijjof that Iraqi weapons of mass destruction were smuggled into Syria in February and March 2003, US National security Advisor Condeleeza Rice says: "I don't think we are at the point that we can make a judgment on this issue," Rice said. "There hasn't been any hard evidence that such a thing happened. But obviously we're going to follow up every lead, and it would be a serious problem if that did in fact happen." Rice added: "I can't dismiss anything that we haven't had an opportunity to fully assess."
--"ROUNDUP: No proof Iraq smuggled weapons to Syria, Bush advisor says," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 9 January 2004, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; "Dissident claims Saddam's weapons were smuggled into Syria," ONASA News Agency, 9 January 2004, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

16 January 2004
US Secretary of State Colin Powell is interviewed on British television and makes a number of statements regarding US relations with Syria. Powell says: "We have not characterized Syria as one of the members of the axis of evil but we are concerned about some of Syria's policies with respect to supporting terrorist activity, with respect of what they might be doing with weapons of mass destruction." Powell added that: "They [Syria] should follow the example of other nations in the region, especially Libya." [This statement is clearly part of a broader effort to apply pressure on Syria in the wake Libya's December 2003 repudiation of its weapons of mass destruction programs.]
--"Powell renews call on Syria to end support for terrorism, WMD," Agence France Presse, 16 January 2004, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

25 March 2004
In Israel, the Sub-Committee for Intelligence and the Secret Services of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee publishes a report entitled "The Committee of Enquiry into the Intelligence System in Light of the War in Iraq." The report states that the possibility that Iraq's alleged WMD stockpiles and their means of production "were moved to Syria on the eve of the war, still exists."
--Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, The Committee of Enquiry into the Intelligence System in Light of the War in Iraq Report – Volume 1 (Unrestricted section), 25 March 2004, p. 28.

8 April 2004
Efforts to conclude a Free Trade Agreement between Syria and the European Union [see 9 December 2003] stall. Syrian officials publicly complain that the EU has added new clauses to the proposed agreement that require all parties to uphold bans on the possession or production of WMD including biological weapons. The Syrian officials complain that this clause is discriminatory as a similar agreement between the EU and Israel does not include any such clause. Syrian Minister of Expatriate Affairs, Mr. Buthaina Shabaan says: "[w]e feel the wording is a deliberate attempt to raise impossible issues." He also rejects suggestions that Syria replicate Libya's example and give up its chemical weapons. He points to Israel's occupation of Syrian territory and possession of nuclear weapons.
--Daniel Williams, "Syria-EU Trade Deal Stalls Over Chemical Weapons Issue," Washington Post, 8 April 2004, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

11 May 2004
Using authority granted to him by the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, U.S. President George W. Bush imposes sanctions on Syria for its alleged pursuit of WMD and support of terrorist groups. The sanctions ban all U.S. exports to Syria except food and medicine; ban Syrian airlines from flying to or from the United States; restrict relations between U.S. banks and the Syrian national bank; and authorize the U.S. Treasury Department to freeze assets of Syrian nationals allegedly involved in terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, occupation of Lebanon, or terrorism in Iraq.
--Megan K. Stack, "Accusing Syria of Aiding Terrorists, Bush Imposes Sanctions," LA Times, 12 May 2004, p. A3, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

13 May 2004
Libya declares - in a statement read out by U.S. Under-Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton in Washington, DC - that it will "not deal in military goods or services with countries that it considers of serious weapons of mass destruction proliferation concern." Bolton says that Libya included North Korea, Syria and Iran as countries with which it had renounced all military trade. Subsequent to Bolton's comments, in a statement carried by the official Libyan news agency JANA, the Libyan Foreign Ministry says: "The Libyan statement was clear, it cited no country and was not aimed at Syria... Tripoli cannot say that Syria has WMD since it is a peaceful country whose land is occupied and is threatened by Israel."
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 65 (September 2004), p. 23.

7 June 2004
The government of the United Kingdom releases its annual report on the application of strategic export controls in 2003. The report notes the approval of exports of civil and military NBC protection equipment, including clothing and respirators, to Syria.
--United Kingdom Strategic Export Controls, Annual Report 2003, (June 2004), pp. 390 and 391, <http://www.fco.gov.uk>.

15 June 2004
The London Al-Sharq al-Aswat reports that yesterday's meeting of EU foreign ministers did not approve the contentious draft Association Agreement with Syria [see 8 April 2004] because of "the absence of any new element that justifies returning to it or discussing it." The latest draft of the agreement, approved by all 25 EU member states, consists of a preamble and three clauses. It calls on Syria to implement the agreements on WMD it has signed and to sign the BWC and CWC. It also calls for setting up monitoring mechanisms and a commitment not to import, export or allow the transit of the components of such weapons. According to unidentified European diplomatic sources quoted by the newspaper, Syria had tried to intervene to achieve a more flexible paragraph but to no avail. The sources also state that Syria objects to the fact that the EU's Association Agreement with Israel does not include a similar paragraph and believes that the EU's stance is a result of US pressure.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 65 (September 2004), p. 35.

15 July 2004
In Damascus, EU envoy Annalisa Gianella holds talks on weapons of mass destruction proliferation with Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara. Speaking after the meeting Gianella says: "The purpose of my visit is to explain to our friends, the Syrians, the security strategy and the strategy against proliferation of WMD which were adopted by EU countries." The official Syrian news agency quotes Shara as saying "all parties without exception (including Israel) must cooperate to make the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction."
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 65 (September 2004), p. 46.

26 July 2004
In Damascus, Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq Shara says that the EU has recognized it had made a "mistake" by insisting on the WMD clause in the EU Mediterranean joint political and economic pact. "I believe [the EU] have started to shift closer to our point of view, and I do not rule out that between now and September there may be a new thing regarding the Syrian European partnership, toward signing," says Shara. The next day, the Lebanese Daily Star quotes an unidentified Beirut-based European diplomat as saying that the EU has "somewhat diluted" the clause by "rephrasing" it, but that it was really the Syrians that "gave in", not the EU.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 65 (September 2004), p. 49.

17 August 2004
The CIA is reported to have discovered that in the weeks before the war, Saddam Hussein replaced Iraqi border guards with trusted intelligence agents who supervised moving truckloads of contraband materials into Syria. Although officials caution that the new information is "not considered concrete evidence Saddam shipped chemical and biological agents to Syria before the U.S. invasion," there is a clear intention to raise the possibility that this transfer did occur.
--Niles Lathem, "Saddam's WMD may be in Syria," New York Post, 17 August 2004, p. 10, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

8 October 2004
Charles Duelfer, head of the Iraq Survey Group is quoted responding to a question about the possibility that Iraqi WMD were transferred out of Iraq prior to March 2003. He says: "We cannot yet definitively say whether or not WMD materials were transferred out of Iraq before the war. Neither can we definitely answer some questions about possible retained stocks though, as I say, it is my judgment that retained stocks did not exist." [By excluding the possibility of retained stocks of WMD, or new production prior to March 2003 Duelfer also excludes the possibility that WMD were transferred to Syria or any other country.]
--Janine Zacharia, "Bush concedes Iraq had no WMDs," Jerusalem Post, 8 October 2004, p. 1, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

19 October 2004
Syria and the European Union (EU) initial a 1,450 page association agreement. The agreement, which will enter into force after it is ratified by EU and Syrian political institutions, provides a framework for increased economic relations between the parties. It also includes sections addressing the expansion of social, cultural and political ties. The finalization of the agreement was delayed by disputes over the late inclusion of language on fighting terrorism and the non proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. This language was added at the insistence of German and the UK [see 23 December 2003].
--"EU and Syria mark end of negotiations for an Association Agreement," Press Release IP/04/1246, 19 October 2004, <http://www.eu.int>.

27 October 2004
US Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, John R. Bolton, delivers a speech at the Tokyo American Center following the conclusion of a Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) related naval exercise in the sea of Japan. Bolton thanks Japan for hosting Team Samurai and says: "While PSI is helping stem the spread of WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials, serious proliferation threats remain. These threats must be met head on by active, concerted efforts through PSI cooperation and other available means. North Korea, Iran, and Syria, among others, are clearly states of proliferation concern; we believe that PSI partners should be ready to scrutinize shipments going to or from such states or terrorist groups."
--John R. Bolton, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, Stopping the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction in the Asian-Pacific Region: The Role of the Proliferation Security Initiative, Address to the Tokyo American Center, 27 October 2004, <http://www.state.gov>.

November 2004
The German Zollkriminalamt (Federal Customs Administration) releases a report entitled Exportkontrolle Informationen sensible Länder [Export Controls: Information about Countries of Concern]. The section addressing Syria says: "Syria is presumed to have initiated biological weapons research in the late 1980s under the auspices of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC, or CERS), Damascus. Syria is thought to have developed biological weapons agents such as botulinum toxin, algae toxins and Bacillus anthracis." [original text in German - translation by Harvard Sussex Program]
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 67 (March 2005), p. 12; Exportkontrolle Informationen sensible Länder, (Berlin, Federal Customs Administration, November 2005) p. 8, <http://www.zollkriminalamt.de>.

23 November 2004
The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency submits its Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions 1 July Through 31 December 2003 in accordance with S.721 of the FY1997 Intelligence Authorization Act. In respect to Syria, the report states that until 31 December 2003, "Syria probably also continued to develop a BW capability." This statement, which repeats the statements issued on this matter by the CIA for a number of years now suggests an absence of new developments.
--Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions 1 July Through 31 December 2003 (Washington, DC: Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, 2004), p. 6, <http://www.cia.gov>.

6 to 10 December 2004
A Syrian representative attends the Meeting of States Parties to the BWC in Geneva, Switzerland. The purpose of the meeting is to continue preparations for the Sixth BWC Review Conference which is to take place in 2006.
--The CBW Conventions Bulletin, No. 66 (December 2004), p. 23.

5 January 2005
Pakistani Federal Minister for Science and Technology Ch. Nouraiz Shakoor Khan and Syrian Deputy Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Mohamed Najib Abdul Wahid participate in the meeting of the Pak-Syria Joint Committee on Science and Technology. Topics to be discussed and potentially finalized in the Joint Committee meetings "include items in the fields of Agricultural Research, Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Water Resource Management in Arid Areas, Oceanographic Research standards, Accreditation, Precision Mechanics."
--"Latest Technology is need for progress in all sectors: Nouraiz," Financial Times Information, 5 January 2005.

14 January 2005
White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, rules out the possibility that Iraqi WMD may have been moved to Syria.
--Brian Knowlton, "Search for banned weapons in Iraq ends quietly," International Herald Tribune, 14 January 2005, p. 3.

17 January 2005
U.S. Intelligence and congressional officials say they have not seen any evidence that WMD components or equipment were moved from Iraq to Syria, Jordan or elsewhere before or after the March 2003 U.S. invasion. In a separate statement Charles Duelfer, head of the Iraq Survey Group (ISG) says: "What I can tell you is that I believe we know a lot of materials left Iraq and went to Syria. There was certainly a lot of traffic across the border points. But whether in fact in any of these trucks there was WMD-related materials, I cannot say."
--Katherine P. Shrader, "U.S. intelligence found no evidence WMD moved from Iraq," Associated Press, 17 January 2005, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

17 January 2005
Unnamed US congressional officials, speaking in anticipation of the final report of the Iraq Survey Group (ISG), say that "they have not seen any information - never 'a piece,' said one' - indicating that WMD or significant amounts of components and equipment were transferred from Iraq to neighboring Syria, Jordan or elsewhere."
--Katherine P. Shrader, "US Intelligence found no evidence WMD moved from Iraq," Associated Press, 17 January 2005, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

16 February 2005
In testimony before the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Vice Admiral Lowell E. Jacoby, addresses the question of Syria's pursuit of WMD capabilities. He says: "Longstanding Syrian policies of supporting terrorism [and] relying on WMD for strategic deterrence … remain largely unchanged."
--Vice Admiral Lowell E. Jacoby, Current and Projected National Security Threats to the United States, Statement for the Record before the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 16 February 2005, p. 15, <http://www.dia.mil>.

21 February 2005
Representatives from Syria, and other Middle Eastern and Western European nations, attend an international conference on bio-safety at the Al-Bustan Palace hotel in Oman, under the patronage of Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq al-Said, Oman's Minister of Heritage and Culture. The three-day event is organized by the Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources. "The conferees ... discuss case studies assessing risks to bio-safety. The conference ... also provide[s] the opportunity for participants to exchange information and experience on bio-safety."
--"Int'l Bio-Safety Conference to open today in Oman," Asia Pulse, 21 February 2005.

7 March 2005
The Center of Studies and Research at Naif Arab University for Security Sciences in Saudi Arabia holds a seminar on biological terrorism. Experts participating in the seminar are from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Comoros, Sudan, Syria, Palestine, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Egypt.
--"Seminar on biological terrorism opens in Saudi capital," Financial Times Information, 7 March 2005.

7 March 2005
Speaking in the United States, Hans Blix, former head of UNMOVIC says: "I don't believe that weapons from Iraq have been smuggled into Syria."
--Derek Gentile, "Ex-weapons inspector in Berkshires," The Berkshire Eagle, 8 March 2005.

8 March 2005
In Washington DC, Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Democrat Eliot Engel announce that they are co-sponsoring a bill pressing for harsher sanctions on Syria and other countries that provide support to Damascus. The Lebanon and Syria Liberation Act, calls on President Bush "to push for tighter UN and other international sanctions against Syria. The bill would also withhold foreign aid to any country receiving U.S. assistance which could help Syria obtain nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons, among other measures."
--"Lawmakers propose new Syria sanctions," Agence France Presse, 8 March 2005.

1 April 2005
"Scientists from Surrey-based CABI Bioscience have been examining fungal-based insecticide to control Sunn Pest as part of an Integrated Pest Management project coordinated [sic] by ICARDA in Syria." CABI Bioscience is part of a global not for profit organization dedicated to improving human welfare. The ICARDA is the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas that works through a network of partnerships with national, regional and international institutions.
--"CABI Bioscience: Fungi to help fight key pest of Middle East cereals," M2, 1 April 2005.

26 April 2005
Unnamed U.S. intelligence officials are quoted as stating that Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John R. Bolton "had planned to say in a classified portion of his [July 2003 Congressional] testimony that Syria's development of chemical and biological weapons posed a threat to the stability in the Middle East." Intelligence officials say this prepared testimony "went well beyond what the United States had previously said about Syria's weapons program."
--Douglas Jehl, "Ex-Officials say Bolton inflated Syrian Danger," New York Times, 26 April 2005, p. A1; Douglas Jehl, "Intelligence official told staff to resist Bolton," International Herald Tribune, 29 April 2005, p. 7.

27 April 2005
The Iraq Survey Group (ISG) publicly releases the Addendums to the Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisors to the DCI on Iraq's WMD. On the question of purported transfers of Iraqi WMD to Syria the report says: "There was evidence of a discussion of possible WMD collaboration initiated by a Syrian security officer, and ISG received information about movement of material out of Iraq, including the possibility that WMD was involved. In the judgment of the working group, these reports were sufficiently credible to merit further investigation. ISG was unable to complete its investigation and it is unable to rule out the possibility that WMD was evacuated to Syria before the war. It should be noted that no information from debriefing of Iraqis in custody supports this possibility." The report concluded that "based on the evidence available at present, ISG judged that it was unlikely that an official transfer of WMD material from Iraq to Syria took place. However, ISG was unable to rule out unofficial movement of limited WMD-related materials."
--"Addendums to the Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisors to the DCI on Iraq's WMD (Duelfer Report)," March 2005, <http://www.cia.gov>; Dana Priest, "Report finds no evidence Syria hid Iraqi arms," Washington Post, 26 April 2005; Katherine Shrader, "Weapons inspector ends WMD search in Iraq," Associated Press, 26 April 2005; Rowan Scarborough, "CIA can't rule out WMD move to Syria," Washington Times, 27 April 2005, <http://www.washingtontimes.com>; "Puncturing another weapons myth," New York Times, 30 April 2005, p. A12; Anders Strindberg, "Report finds no evidence of WMD transfers to Syria," Jane's Intelligence Review, 1 June 2005.

27 April 2005
The U.S. State Department releases Country Reports on Terrorism 2004. Although the Syrian section of the report makes no reference to weapons of mass destruction or Syria's alleged chemical or biological weapons programs other sections of the report draw links between Syria, terrorism and WMD. Listing Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria as state sponsors of terrorism the report goes on to say: "[m]ost worrisome is that these countries also have the capabilities to manufacture weapons of mass destruction and other destabilizing technologies that could fall into the hands of terrorists." At a press conference introducing the report U.S. State Department Counselor Philip Zelikow says: "Unfortunately, Cuba, North Korea, Syria, and in particular, Iran, continue to embrace terrorism as an instrument of national policy. Most worrisome is that these countries also have the capabilities to manufacture weapons of mass destruction and other destabilizing technologies that could fall into the hands of terrorists."
--"Country Reports on Terrorism," US Department of State, April 2005, pp. 8, 90-91, <http://www.state.gov>; "Philip Zelikow holds a State Department news briefing on the release of the Annual Country Report on Terrorism," Political Transcript Wire, 27 April 2005.

4 May 2005
Hearings on the controversial nomination of U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John R. Bolton to the position of U.S. ambassador to the UN continue. The chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee declines to endorse a request from Democrat committee members asking that the U.S. State Department turn over documents related to a long-running dispute between U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John R. Bolton and American intelligence agencies over assessments of Syria's weapons programs. The purpose of the request was to obtain evidence supporting claims that Mr. Bolton is prone to the manipulation and exaggeration of intelligence information.
--"Lugar declines to endorse Democrats' request of Bolton documents," Bulletin News Network, 5 May 2005; Douglas Jehl, "A setback to Democrats' request for papers on Bolton and Syria," New York Times, 5 May 2005, p. A10.

5 May 2005
U.S. President George W. Bush renews sanctions he imposed on Syria one year ago.
--"Bush renews sanctions on Syria," Xinhua News Agency, 6 May 2005.

10 November 2005
In its Amended national report submitted to the U.N. 1540 Committee Syria includes the following amended statement: "The Syrian Arab Republic is a State that neither possesses nor intends to acquire weapons of mass destruction, their means of delivery, or related materials, as Syria bas made clear in a number of general statements presented to the United Nations, the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, and the First Committee of the General Assembly in New York, which deals with disarmament issues." On page 7 of the document Syria states: The Syrian Arab Republic does not possess any biological weapons, their means of delivery, or any related materials.
--Annex to the note verbale dated 7 November 2005 from the Permanent Mission of the Syrian Arab Republic to the United Nations addressed to the Chairman of the Committee: Amended national report* of the Syrian Arab Republic submitted pursuant to the comments of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1540 (2004) (Note No. S/AC.44/2005/DDA/OC.S dated 15 June 2005), 10 November 2005.

26 January 2006
Georges Sada, formerly second in command of the Iraqi Air Force, claims that in June 2002 Iraq transported WMD to Syria aboard several refitted commercial jets, under the pretence of conducting a humanitarian mission for flood victims. He says that two commercial jets were converted to cargo jets, in order to carry raw materials and equipment related to WMD projects. The passenger seats, galleys, toilets and storage compartments were removed and new flooring was installed. Hundreds of tons of chemicals were reportedly included in the cargo shipments. Sada says he obtained the information from two Iraq Airways captains who were reportedly flying the sorties. The allegations are included in Sada's newly published book, "Saddam's Secrets" which he is promoting in the United States.
—Ira Stoll, "Iraq's WMD Secreted in Syria, Sada Says," The New York Sun, 26 January 2006, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>

28 February 2006
Testifying before the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Michael Maples, states that "We believe Syria already has a stockpile of the nerve agent sarin and apparently has tried to develop a more toxic and persistent nerve agent."
—Lieutenant General Michael Maples, Current and Projected National Security Threats to the United States, Statement for the Record before the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, 28 February 2006, p. 10, <http://www.dia.mil>.

May 2006
The US Central Intelligence Agency releases its Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions for the period 1 January to 31 December 2004. In the section dealing with Syria the report states: "Syria continued to seek dual-use technology from foreign sources during the reporting period. Damascus already held a stockpile of the nerve agent sarin, but apparently has tried to develop a more toxic and persistent nerve agent. We assess that Syria remains dependent on foreign sources for key elements of its CW program, including precursor chemicals."
—Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions for the period 1 January to 31 December 2004, (Washington, DC: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 2006), p. 5, <http://www.dni.gov>.

15 June 2006
Iran and Syria sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that calls for accelerating the implementation of existing defense cooperation agreements. The MoU also calls for the "elimination of all weapons of mass destruction" which is usually represents a demand for Israeli nuclear disarmament. [see also 14 November 2005]
—Robin Hughes, "Iran, Syria sign a further defence cooperation agreement," Jane's Defense Weekly, 5 July 2006, <http://www.janes.com>.

25-27 October 2006
A Syrian government representative attends the Third OPCW Workshop to Promote the Universality of the Chemical Weapons Convention among States in the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East, and neighboring regions held in Rome, Italy.
—"Rome Workshop on Chemical Weapons Ban in the Middle East," Chemical Disarmament Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 4 (December 2006), p. 17-18.

5 January 2007
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announces that it has designated three Syrian entities, the Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology (HIAST), the Electronics Institute, and the National Standards and Calibration Laboratory (NSCL) pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 13382. This EO gives the Department of the Treasury the authority to freeze the assets of proliferators of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their supporters. The effect of the designation is to prohibit all transactions between the designees and any U.S. person and freeze any assets of the designees that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons. This move builds upon an earlier designation by the U.S. Department of Commerce in March 2005.
—Three Entities Targeted by Treasury for Supporting Syria's WMD Proliferation, 5 January 2007, <http://www.treas.gov>.

11 January 2007
Testifying before the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Michael Maples, states that "Syria has pursued development of a strategic deterrent principally based on ballistic missile, chemical, and, to a limited extent, biological warfare programs, as a means of countering Israel's conventional force superiority." Mr. Maples went on to note that "Syria has had a chemical weapons program for many years and already has a stockpile of the nerve agent sarin, which can be delivered by aircraft or ballistic missiles."
—Lieutenant General Michael Maples, Current and Projected National Security Threats to the United States, 11 January 2007, p. 14, <http://intelligence.senate.gov>.

26 July 2007
An attempt "to weaponise a 500 km [range] 'Scud C' with a mustard gas warhead" is reportedly undertaken at a Syrian military facility in the vicinity of Aleppo. An accident during the test results in a series of explosions that kill as many as 15 Syrian military personnel and an unspecified number of Iranian missile weaponization engineers who were also present. The accident allegedly results in the dispersion of quantities of mustard, sarin and VX nerve agents all of which were apparently stored in close proximity to the site of the initial accident.
The Syrian government which immediately announces the explosion, claims that it is triggered by a sudden rise in ambient air temperature which causes a chemical reaction in sensitive and highly reactive substances. Although this explanation did not entail any acknowledgement of the presence of chemical weapons it could be a description of the explosion of fuel for Syria's Scud missiles.
—Robin Hughes, "Explosion aborts CW project run by Iran and Syria," Jane's Defense Weekly, 26 September 2007, (first posted on Jane's website on 17 September 2007) , <http://www.janes.com>.

11 February 2008
In an article discussing the 6 September 2007 attack on a Syrian facility by Israeli aircraft a Syrian official is quoted as saying "Syrian had concluded ... that chemical warfare had little deterrent value against Israel, given its nuclear capability."
—Seymour M. Hersh, "A Strike in the Dark: What did Israel bomb in Syria?" New Yorker, 11 February 2008, <http://www.newyorker.com>.

27 February 2008
Testifying before the US Senate Select Committee on Armed Services, the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Michael Maples, states that: "Syria's chemical warfare program is well established with a stockpile of nerve agent, which it can deliver by aircraft or ballistic missiles. During the past several years, Damascus has continued to seek chemical warfare-related precursors and expertise from foreign sources. Syria has the facilities and the expertise to domestically produce, store and deliver chemical warfare. Syria will continue to improve its chemical warfare for the foreseeable future to counter regional adversaries."
—Lieutenant General Michael Maples, Current and Projected National Security Threats to the United States, Statement for the Record before the US Senate Committee on Armed Services, 27 February 2008, <http://www.dia.mil>.

3 March 2008
The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) releases its Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions for the period 1 January to 31 December 2005. In the section addressing Syrian chemical weapons activities the report states: "Syria continued to seek dual-use technology from foreign sources during the reporting period. Damascus already held a stockpile of the nerve agent sarin, but apparently has tried to develop a more toxic and persistent nerve agent. We assess that Syria remains dependent on foreign sources for key elements of its CW program, including precursor chemicals."
—Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions for the period 1 January to 31 December 2005, (Washington, DC: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 2008), p. 4, <http://www.dni.gov>.

3 March 2008
The US Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) releases its Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions for the period 1 January to 31 December 2006. The section of the report addressing the Syrian chemical program states: "Syria continued to seek dual-use technology from foreign sources during the reporting period. Syria has had a chemical weapons program for many years and already has a stockpile of the nerve agent sarin, which can be delivered by aircraft or ballistic missile. In addition, Syria is developing the more toxic and persistent nerve agent VX. We assess that Syria remains dependent on foreign sources for key elements of its CW program, including precursor chemicals."
—Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions for the period 1 January to 31 December 2006, (Washington, DC: Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 2008), p. 6, <http://www.dni.gov>.

	Updated October 2008