The Trump administration has brokered an understanding with Israel and Syria that will see the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) remove nuclear material stored at a covert Syrian site, according to a report by journalist Barak Ravid on Israel's Channel 12 News, based on conversations with senior American and Israeli officials.
The facility, designated "Site 99," was used during the Assad regime to store materials left over from Syria's nuclear program. According to Israeli sources, the materials include "yellowcake", a substance derived from uranium, along with other nuclear materials.
American officials say the stored material cannot be used to produce a standard nuclear weapon, but could be employed to create a "dirty bomb," which disperses radioactive material using conventional explosives.
Israel has closely monitored the site and made clear to the Americans that it would not accept leaving the material there. According to sources, Israel even threatened to strike the site if the material was not removed or if Syria attempted to access it.
Following the fall of the Assad regime, the Israel Defense Forces bombed the entrances to the site to prevent access. For over a year, Israel and the United States held discussions on how to address the situation, ultimately deciding to proceed through Syrian consent and IAEA supervision.
When the Trump administration raised the issue with Syria's new government, Syrian officials claimed they were unaware of the nuclear material's existence at the site. Several weeks ago, activity was detected in the area that raised Israeli concerns that Syrian elements were attempting to reach the materials. Israel also feared possible Turkish involvement in the matter.
In response, the American administration asked Israel to refrain from military action and brought the IAEA into the picture. Approximately three weeks ago, an agreement was signed between the IAEA and the Syrian government to begin removing the materials from the facility. According to American sources, the evacuation has not yet begun, but is expected to commence soon and be completed by the end of the year.
