AXIOS (Barak Ravid) - UN inspectors visit undeclared Syrian nuclear sites for first time
UN inspectors this week visited several undeclared Assad-era Syrian nuclear sites for the first time — including some used to store nuclear material. Why it matters: The inspections by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi and his team came after diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration, first reported by Axios , that produced understandings with both Syria and Israel. - It marked the first time the IAEA was given full access to suspicious nuclear sites in Syria. Flashback: The Assad regime had developed a secret nuclear program centered on the clandestine Al-Kibar reactor. - After Israel bombed the reactor in 2007, the Syrian nuclear program was mostly destroyed. But several…
What are the next steps for the IAEA regarding the nuclear material found at the undeclared Syrian sites?
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi stated that inspectors still need to conduct a full inventory of the nuclear material. He also noted that if the Syrian government and its allies decide to move the material, the IAEA will be involved in that process.
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What steps has the Syrian government taken regarding the disclosure of nuclear material to the IAEA?
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated that the Syrian government sent a letter to the IAEA on July 17 disclosing the nuclear material and inviting UN inspectors to visit the site. The government intends to place the material under IAEA safeguards while verification activities continue, though they maintained that the material remains in Syrian national custody.
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What is the significance of "Site 99" regarding Syria's nuclear history?
Site 99 is a facility that has been closely monitored by Israel and the U.S. for the past two years. According to two Israeli officials, the Assad regime used this site to store nuclear material that was part of the Al-Kibar nuclear reactor project.
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How did the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gain access to Syria's suspicious nuclear sites?
Following the fall of the Assad regime, the IAEA signed an agreement with the new Syrian government providing access to Al-Kibar and other sites linked to Syria's past nuclear activity. These inspections followed diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration that resulted in understandings with both Syria and Israel.
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What did UN inspectors discover during their first visit to undeclared Syrian nuclear sites in August 2026?
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and his team visited several undeclared Assad-era sites, including a location outside Damascus that contained several tons of natural uranium metal, and a location where large quantities of graphite are stored. They also visited the Al-Kibar nuclear reactor site in Deir Ez-Zor, where they observed ongoing excavation activities being conducted in coordination with the IAEA.
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