Barzah scientific research centre
The Barzah scientific research centre, also known as the Barzah Scientific Research Facility, is a facility of the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center located in Barzeh, Damascus. Several buildings at the centre alleged to be associated with a Syrian chemical weapons programme were destroyed during the 2018 missile strikes against Syria during the Syrian Civil War. Other buildings within the larger complex were undamaged.
In a press conference on April 13, 2018 US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Marine General Joseph Dunford claimed that this center is used for the research, development, production and testing of chemical and biological weaponry. Three weeks earlier, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons had concluded that there were no chemical or biological weapons being developed, tested, or produced at the site.
Previous reports by OPCW stated that investigators from the organization inspected Barzah facility from 14 to 21 November 2017 and their report concluded that the analysis of samples taken during the inspections did not indicate the presence of prohibited chemicals in the samples. The inspection team did not observe activities inconsistent with obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention during the second round of inspections at the Barzah facility.
