US brokers agreement to extract nuclear material from secret Syrian storage site
The United States secured a deal with Syria, Israel and Turkey for the IAEA to remove yellowcake from the hidden Site 99 in Syria.
In a multi-nation negotiation, the United States, Syria, Israel and Turkey agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency extract yellowcake from a covert Syrian storage location known as Site 99. The material is a leftover from the nuclear ambitions of former President Bashar Assad, which were halted after Israel’s 2007 Operation Outside the Box destroyed the main reactor. The site was concealed after that raid, but recent Israeli observations of activity raised fears that the material could be accessed for a dirty-bomb.
The IAEA will now conduct a safe removal, a plan that reportedly satisfies all sides. A U.S. spokesperson expressed optimism that the process could begin promptly and be completed before the end of the year. The agreement also signals closer cooperation between Washington and Syria’s new leadership under Ahmed al Sharaa.
Why it matters
Preventing the spread of nuclear material reduces the risk of a dirty-bomb attack in a volatile region.
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