The UN nuclear watchdog has revealed that a secret nuclear reactor built during the rule of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was configured to produce fissile material for possible use in nuclear weapons. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi stated that the reactor, which was nearly completed in 2007 before being destroyed by Israeli jets, was of a type capable of quickly producing such material.
IAEA inspectors recently visited two sites, including one in Deir ez-Zor and a second undisclosed location identified by Syrian authorities. During these inspections, the watchdog uncovered around 73 metric tons of natural uranium metal, primarily in the form of reactor fuel.
The watchdog also discovered a fuel fabrication plant where nuclear fuel for the reactor was manufactured, as well as a location where nuclear fuel, uranium scrap, and waste were stored. Material from the facility bombed in 2007 is now under IAEA safeguards.