BEIRUT -- A UN official says international inspectors have begun destroying Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons and the machinery used to create it.

The official couldn't confirm what specifically was destroyed, but said that by the end of Sunday, a combination of both weapons and some production equipment would be put out of order.

He spoke anonymously because of the matter's sensitivity.

Inspectors are tasked by the UN to dismantle and ultimately destroy Syria's chemical weapon program by mid-2014.

The push to destroy Syria's chemical weapons program came after an August attack near Damascus that killed hundreds of civilians.