OPCW to Destroy Chemical Weapons in Syria

Chemical weapons in Syria and the reciprocal actions of the the UN and United States have been relevant topics in the news lately. Last month, the area around Damascus, Syria was under a chemical attack, which was confirmed as the largest usage of chemical warfare since Saddam Hussein used them against civilians in 1988 (BBC News).

According to BBC News, the death toll has been estimated of more than 1,300 people in the August 21st attacks, and people displaying"neurotoxic symptoms" being up towards the number of 3,600.

The chemical agents believed to be used in this attack were burning agents like mustard gas and compounds that affect the nerves such as sarin (CBS: Initial Declaration). These chemical agents were believe to be transported via rockets, shown below.

Now, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has confirmed that they are going to enter Syria as early as November to begin disbanding the equipment used to create chemical warfare. This action was unanimously supported by the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council this past Friday. They predict that the completion of this mission will take until the  middle of 2014 (CBS: OPCW).

Sarin Structure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarin

Mustard Gas Skeletal Structure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_mustard

Rocket Used in Syria. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23927399

BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23927399
CBS: Inital Declaration. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57603851/syria-hands-initial-declaration-on-chemical-weapons-to-global-watchdog/
CBS: OPCW. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57605206/opcw-inspectors-plan-to-smash-syria-chemical-weapons-making-ability-by-start-of-november/
Mustard Gas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur_mustard
Sarin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarin