Joint Investigative Mechanism for Syria Visits Damascus

NEW YORK, 6 August (Joint Investigative Mechanism) — The Joint Investigative Mechanism, mandated by Security Council resolution 2235 (2015) to identify those responsible for the use of chemicals as weapons in Syria, visited Damascus this week.  The Leadership Panel met with Syria’s relevant Government and other officials to discuss matters pertaining to the Mechanism’s mandate.

During the same visit, the Mechanism’s investigative team received further information from the Syrian Government, as related to the ongoing investigation.  This was the Mechanism’s fourth visit to Syria.

In mid-June, the Security Council considered the Mechanism’s progress report, which provided an update of the work done since February.  The Mechanism is currently analysing, assessing and corroborating relevant information with regard to the nine cases related to the incidents involving the use of chemicals as weapons in Syria between April 2014 and August 2015.  The Mechanism will report again to the Security Council in August.

The nine cases (with the dates of related incidents) identified are:  Kafr Zita (11 and 18 April 2014) in Hama Governorate; Talmenes (21 April 2014), Qmenas, (16 March 2015), Sarmin (16 March 2015), Binnish (23–24 March 2015), and Al Tamanah (29–30 April 2014 and 25–26 May 2014), all in Idlib Governorate; and Marea (21 August 2015) in Aleppo Governorate.