The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog has revealed that a secret nuclear reactor built during Bashar al-Assad's rule was nearly complete and could have produced fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons.
Key facts
- The reactor was built secretly during the rule of toppled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
- IAEA chief said the nearly complete facility could have produced fissile material for possible weapons use.
- IAEA inspectors visited two sites last month, one in Deir ez-Zor.
- A second site was in an undisclosed location identified by Syrian authorities.
A nearly complete nuclear reactor built secretly during the rule of the toppled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad would have been able to produce fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons, the chief of the UN nuclear watchdog has revealed, according to the Guardian.
The disclosure came from the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN body responsible for monitoring nuclear activity around the world. The chief said the secret facility would have been capable of producing fissile material, the key ingredient for a nuclear weapon.
Inspectors from the IAEA visited two sites last month as part of their examination of Syria’s past nuclear activities. One of the locations was in Deir ez-Zor, in eastern Syria.
The second site was in an undisclosed location that was identified to the inspectors by Syrian authorities, the Guardian reported. The cooperation of Syrian officials in pointing inspectors to the site marks a shift following the fall of the Assad government.
The findings raise fresh questions about the extent of nuclear work carried out in Syria during Assad’s rule and about how far the reactor project had progressed before it was left incomplete.
Why it matters
Fissile material is the essential component for building a nuclear weapon, so evidence that a Syrian facility was close to being able to produce it carries significant implications for regional and global security. The IAEA's findings, made possible by cooperation from Syrian authorities after Assad's fall, could reshape international understanding of Syria's nuclear past.
Frequently asked questions
What did the UN nuclear watchdog find in Syria?
The IAEA chief said a nearly complete reactor built secretly during Assad's rule could have produced fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons.
Where did IAEA inspectors visit?
Inspectors visited two sites last month, one in Deir ez-Zor and a second in an undisclosed location identified to them by Syrian authorities.
Was the reactor operational?
According to the Guardian, the reactor was nearly complete but not finished; the IAEA said it would have been able to produce fissile material if completed.