Over 100 chemical weapons sites could remain in Syria, watchdog says

Over 100 chemical weapons sites are suspected to remain in Syria, The New York Times reports.

The report cites estimations by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

The sites are thought to have been for the development and research of chemical weapons under the regime of deposed Syrian leader Bashar Assad, the Times says. Some of the sites could be hidden in caves or other hard-to-identify locations, the report says.

The newspaper notes that the chemical weapons stockpiles could include the sarin nerve agent, as well as chlorine and mustard gas.

Experts tell the newspaper that there are concerns that the chemical weapons could fall into the hands of extremists and terror groups.

Syria agreed to give up its chemical weapons stockpile in 2013, after the government was accused of launching an attack near Damascus that killed hundreds of people. However, it is widely believed to have kept some of the weapons and was accused of using them again in subsequent years.

Israel has said it struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria, saying it did so in order to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors.