Germany Sold Syria Chemicals With Military Potential

Berlin exported 111 tons of chemicals to Damascus between 2002-2006; German gov’t: Chemicals were sold for civilian use.

BERLIN – Germany exported 111 tons of chemicals to Syria between 2002 and 2006 that could be used in the production of sarin gas, according to a government document published on Wednesday.

But the government rejected a suggestion from an opposition lawmaker that Germany might thereby have inadvertently contributed to the August 21 sarin attack in Syria, which the West blames on President Bashar Assad.

The chemicals – sodium fluoride, hydrofluoric acid and ammonium hydrogen fluoride – are classified as “dual use” under European Union law, meaning they can be used for either civil or military purposes. They require special export permits.