IAEA set to remove nuclear material from Syrian site in US-brokered deal - report

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is preparing to remove nuclear material from a secret Syrian site, following an agreement brokered by the United States involving Syria and Israel. This deal aims to secure the sensitive material and avert a potential escalation of tensions between Israel, Syria, and Turkey.

According to reports citing Israeli and U.S. officials, the Trump administration and the IAEA worked urgently to finalize the agreement. The effort, kept secret for weeks, reportedly addresses a clandestine nuclear program developed under former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, potentially linked to the Al-Kibar reactor, a plutonium production facility built with North Korean assistance.

Discussions regarding the site, known as "Site 99," have been ongoing for over a year, with the U.S. and Israel seeking a resolution. Israel had previously indicated it would not tolerate the presence of nuclear material at the site and had even threatened military action if Syria attempted to access it. The U.S. and Israel ultimately agreed that securing Syrian government "buy-in" for the removal of the material was the most effective approach, despite Syrian officials denying knowledge of any nuclear material at the location.