US, Israel, and Syria reach deal to remove nuclear material from Site 99
The United States, Israel, and the new Syrian government have reached an agreement to remove nuclear material from a clandestine location in Syria known as Site 99. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is scheduled to lead the operation to safely extract the material.
The material, described as remnants from the Al-Kibar reactor which was destroyed by Israel in 2007, includes yellowcake. While not suitable for constructing a nuclear weapon, officials expressed concern that the concentrated uranium powder could be used to create a dirty bomb via conventional explosives.
Negotiations involving the US, Israel, Syria, and Turkey reportedly took place over several months. The deal follows tensions after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, during which Israel conducted airstrikes on the site's entrances to prevent unauthorized access. Israel had previously threatened further military action if the material remained at the site. The new Syrian administration, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, was reportedly unaware of the material's presence. Officials hope to complete the removal process by the end of the year.
Entities
Ahmed al-Sharaa · Donald Trump · International Atomic Energy Agency · Israel · Syria · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The material at the site includes yellowcake, a concentrated uranium powder. www.rt.com · ir.voanews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The new Syrian government was reportedly unaware of the presence of the nuclear material. ir.voanews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A US official stated the goal is to complete the removal process before the end of the year. www.washingtonexaminer.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The US, Israel, and Syria reached a deal to remove nuclear material from a secret site in Syria. www.etemadonline.com · www.rt.com · ir.voanews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will remove nuclear material from a site known as Site 99. www.etemadonline.com · www.rt.com · ir.voanews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The material is linked to remnants from Syria’s Al-Kibar reactor, which Israel bombed in 2007. www.rt.com · ir.voanews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The material could potentially be used to create a dirty bomb rather than a nuclear weapon. www.rt.com · ir.voanews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Israel threatened to bomb the site again if the material was not removed or if Syria attempted to access it. www.etemadonline.com · www.rt.com · ir.voanews.com · www.washingtonexaminer.com