The United States has brokered a significant agreement for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to remove nuclear material from a clandestine Syrian facility known as "Site 99." This agreement, signed approximately three weeks ago between the Syrian government and the IAEA, authorized the agency to conduct the removal of the sensitive material. The deal reportedly averted a potential confrontation involving Syria, Israel, and possibly Türkiye, according to sources familiar with the sensitive negotiations. The classified Site 99, which has been a point of international concern regarding its undisclosed nuclear activities, holds material directly connected to the country's former nuclear programme.
Secret Site and Past Programs
Site 99 reportedly stored remnants of Syria’s former nuclear programme, a legacy that has drawn international scrutiny for years. U.S. And Israeli officials informed Axios that the site contained material directly connected to the Al-Kibar nuclear reactor project. The Al-Kibar nuclear reactor project was developed during the tenure of former president Bashar al-Assad, representing a significant component of Syria's past nuclear ambitions. Israel subsequently destroyed the Al-Kibar reactor in a decisive air strike conducted in 2007. Despite the effectiveness of the strike against the reactor itself, several research and storage facilities associated with the program survived the 2007 attack. Other residues from the Al-Kibar project were also kept at the facility, according to officials, showing the enduring nature of the nuclear remnants. The new Syrian authorities had previously granted international inspectors access to the Al-Kibar site and several other locations linked to the country’s past nuclear activities, demonstrating a shift in posture regarding transparency.
Material Concerns and Tensions
Among the material reportedly stored at Site 99 was yellowcake, a processed uranium ore. This substance, while not immediately weaponizable, can be further refined and, after additional stages, enriched for use in a nuclear fuel cycle. The material was not considered suitable for use in a nuclear weapon in its existing form, but officials expressed significant concern that radioactive material from the site could potentially be used in a so-called dirty bomb, posing a different but equally serious threat. This concern was amplified by recent events.
Israeli officials stated that the Israeli military bombed the entrances to Site 99 shortly after the fall of the Assad government, indicating the immediacy of their concerns. For more than a year prior, U.S. And Israeli officials had discussed strategies for securing the site, noting the long-standing nature of the problem. Israel had warned Washington that it would not accept the continued presence of nuclear material at the location, showing its red line. Israeli surveillance detected activity around Site 99 several weeks ago, raising alarms. Israeli officials suspected that the Syrian government might be attempting to gain access to the stored material, a development they viewed with extreme apprehension. Israeli officials were also concerned that Türkiye could be assisting Damascus in this endeavor, adding another layer of complexity to the regional security dynamics.
Diplomatic Resolution Path
The agreement to remove nuclear material from Site 99 followed months of discreet negotiations involving Washington, Damascus, Israel, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). These protracted discussions were key in navigating the sensitive political and security landscape. A U.S. Official informed Axios that Israel was never on the verge of carrying out another strike, dispelling fears of imminent military action. Washington and Israel ultimately concluded that the preferred course of action was to secure the cooperation of Syria’s new government and arrange for the material's removal under international supervision, prioritizing a diplomatic and internationally sanctioned solution. When U.S. Officials initially raised the issue with Damascus, Syrian officials reportedly stated they had been unaware that nuclear material remained at the facility, suggesting a potential lack of institutional memory or control under the new administration. One U.S. Official described cooperation with the post-Assad authorities as productive, a positive sign for future interactions. The Trump administration, which was in power during a critical phase of these discussions, urged Israel not to act militarily and brought the IAEA more directly into the negotiations, leveraging diplomatic channels to de-escalate the situation. The removal operation has not yet begun, and the material currently remains at Site 99. However, U.S. Officials expressed hope that the process could commence soon and be completed before the end of the year, aiming for a swift and secure resolution to this long-standing nuclear concern.
