UN Nuclear Watchdog Says Secret Syrian Reactor Could Have Produced Weapons-Grade Material
Source Summary
The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency revealed that a nearly complete nuclear reactor built secretly during Bashar al-Assad's rule in Syria would have been capable of producing fissile material for possible nuclear weapons use. IAEA inspectors visited two sites last month, including one in Deir ez-Zor and another at an undisclosed location, both identified by Syrian authorities.
Why it matters
The discovery reveals that Syria pursued covert nuclear weapons capability during Assad's rule, raising concerns about proliferation risks and the effectiveness of international nuclear oversight.
