Syria Undeclared Nuclear Material
IAEA Discovers Tons of Nuclear Material at Undeclared Syrian Site After Government Notification
Key Points
IAEA accessed the undeclared site and collected samples the same day after Syria notified the agency, with Grossi noting that samples were collected and access was granted.
The site is tied to Syria's covert Al-Kibar program; reports describe 'Site 99' near Deir al-Zor that has been closely monitored by Israel for nearly two years, and indicate the material includes yellowcake uranium and remnants from Al-Kibar.
On July 17, Damascus formally notified the IAEA of the presence of nuclear material at an undeclared site and extended an invitation for the IAEA to inspect the location.
Syrian Foreign Minister Al-Shibani said the material will remain under Syrian custody with IAEA safeguards and that Syria has the right to civil and peaceful use, with assurances of safe handling.
Israel's 2007 airstrike targeted a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor in Deir al-Zor, providing historical context for international concern over Syria's nuclear activities.
The United Nations' nuclear watchdog has found several tons of nuclear material at a secret site in Syria — material its chief warned could be "put to bad use." Yahoo News reported that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi made the announcement after inspectors visited the previously undisclosed location and collected samples on the same day Syria notified the agency.
The site is linked to Syria's covert Al-Kibar nuclear program. Israel destroyed a suspected reactor at Al-Kibar in a 2007 airstrike. The discovery marks the first time UN inspectors have accessed several undeclared Assad-era nuclear sites, according to Axios.
IAEA Collects Samples From Secret Syrian Site
Syria formally notified the IAEA on July 17 that nuclear material was stored at an undeclared site. Inspectors got access and collected samples that same day. Grossi described the find as "several tons" of material. He stressed the need for "safe processing and storage" given the risk of misuse, according to Yahoo News.
Axios reported that inspectors visited multiple undeclared Assad-era sites for the first time. The visits came after diplomatic efforts by Syria's new government, which took power after President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in late 2024. The IAEA said access was granted and samples were collected without delay.
Syria's Al-Kibar Program and the 2007 Israeli Strike
The discovered material is tied to Syria's covert Al-Kibar nuclear program. Israel bombed a suspected nuclear reactor at Al-Kibar, near Deir al-Zor in eastern Syria, in September 2007. That strike has been the backdrop for international concern about Syria's nuclear activities ever since, according to Worthy News.
Reports identify a location called "Site 99" near Deir al-Zor as closely monitored by Israel for nearly two years. The material found there includes yellowcake uranium — a lightly processed form of uranium ore — and remnants from the Al-Kibar facility. Officials say there are no known operational nuclear weapons stockpiles in Syria.
Syria Claims Right to Peaceful Nuclear Use
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani said the nuclear material will stay under Syrian custody. It will be subject to IAEA safeguards — meaning inspectors can monitor it. Al-Shibani said Syria has "the right to civil and peaceful use" of nuclear material, according to France 24.
France 24 reported that Al-Shibani gave assurances of safe handling and said Damascus is cooperating with the IAEA. Syria's new authorities say they are working to address activities carried out under the Assad government. Grossi has not said the material poses an immediate danger, but called for careful oversight.
What Happens Next With Syria's Nuclear Material
The IAEA will continue to monitor the nuclear material under its safeguards system. That means regular inspections and reporting requirements. Syria's cooperation so far — notifying the agency and granting same-day access — is seen as a positive step, according to Axios.
Still, questions remain about how much nuclear material Syria holds and where. The Al-Kibar program was secret for years. Worthy News noted that international concern over Syria's nuclear past has never fully gone away, and the new government's willingness to open sites to inspectors will be closely watched.
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