IAEA finds tons of nuclear material in Syria

The International — International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that its inspectors found several tons of nuclear material at an undeclared site in Syria, which the new Syrian government reported to the agency in July 2026. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi praised Syria's cooperation and said the material would be placed under international safeguards. The material, including yellowcake, was stored at a site known as 'Site 99' and was linked to the former Assad regime's clandestine nuclear program, including the Al-Kibar reactor destroyed by Israel in 2007. The discovery follows a US-brokered agreement among the US, Israel, and Syria to secure and remove the material, preventing a potential escalation. Israel had monitored the site and threatened to bomb it if the material was not removed. Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated the material poses no danger and will remain in Syrian custody under IAEA safeguards. The IAEA also excavated the Deir Ezzor site, validating its long-held assessment that a nuclear facility was being built there. The removal process is ongoing and expected to be completed by the end of the year.