Syria to surrender Assad-era nuclear material to IAEA

The Syrian Interim Government has agreed to surrender its remaining stockpile of nuclear material to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This US-brokered deal follows weeks of threats from Israel to bomb Syrian facilities if the material is not secured.

The stockpile is a remnant of a secret nuclear program from the Assad era, including powdered uranium ore known as yellowcake. While the new government has granted the IAEA unrestricted access to several sites, tensions remain high. Israeli officials previously expressed concern regarding potential attempts to access material at a facility known as Site 99.

Despite this breakthrough, analysts suggest the agreement is unlikely to resolve broader security disputes between Syria and Israel, as negotiations remain stalled over issues of occupation and withdrawal demands. The move is seen as an effort to prevent a regional crisis involving Syria, Israel, and potentially Turkey.