Nov. 1 Deadline to End Syria Chemical Weapons Manufacturing Capacity

United Nations inspectors who will oversee the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons say that their first priority will be ending Syria’s capacity to manufacture weapons by Nov. 1.

On Sept. 27, the U.N. Security Council ordered the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to destroy Syria’s arsenal by mid-2014 by any means possible. But some experts are skeptical that the weapons can be destroyed in accordance with that timetable. Adding to the complications, the Syrian government is responsible for giving U.N. inspectors access to the chemical sites, some of which may be near rebel-held areas.