The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had found traces of uranium in Syria during new inspections at sites linked to a facility destroyed by Israel in Deir ez-Zor (eastern Syria) in 2007, long suspected by the agency of being an undeclared nuclear reactor.
According to a confidential report reviewed by Reuters on September 1, analysis of samples taken last year from three locations believed to be functionally connected to the Deir ez-Zor site revealed “a significant number of uranium particles of natural origin” at one of them, indicating man-made chemical processing.
The agency explained that the description “natural” means the uranium was not enriched, though it could not determine the exact implications of these findings.
The current Syrian authorities denied any knowledge that could explain the presence of these particles but allowed inspectors in June to collect additional samples.
The report also noted a meeting between IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, where both sides agreed to cooperate with “full transparency” regarding Syria’s past nuclear activities.
Grossi requested Damascus’ assistance in allowing a new visit to the Deir ez-Zor site “in the coming months” to conduct further analyses, review documents, and interview those involved in the activities.
Since 2011, the IAEA has sought to reach a final conclusion on the site, which it has said was “very likely” a covertly built reactor, while the government of ousted president Bashar al-Assad insisted it was a conventional military facility.
According to the report, the agency still plans to visit Deir ez-Zor and assess other environmental samples, aiming to close the file once a final conclusion is reached.
Operation “Orchard” (“al-Kibar”)
The book Shadow Strike by Israeli journalist Yaakov Katz, first published in 2019, detailed how Mossad discovered the reactor in Deir ez-Zor and how the White House reacted to Israel’s military operation.
It recounts the secret strike on the “al-Kibar” area in northeastern Syria near the Iraqi border to eliminate a nuclear weapons facility.
The operation began on September 5, 2007, when four F-16 fighter jets and four F-15s bombed the al-Kibar area in Deir ez-Zor, returning safely to base after four hours.
In August 2007, Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin devised a plan to send special forces deep into Syrian territory to physically inspect the suspected reactor.
The unit collected soil, plant, and dust samples, placing them in plastic containers, according to Shadow Strike. To ensure accuracy, the team also dug to a specific depth to detect uranium traces that would indicate reactor construction.
The mission lasted only minutes, and the Israeli troops withdrew undetected. Soldiers even used a vacuum-like device to erase any tracks of their presence.
According to Israel’s account, the samples revealed uranium, confirming the structure was a nuclear reactor. Based on field tests and high-resolution imagery, Yadlin concluded that “a few planes can finish the job.”
The operation, codenamed “Orchard,” was carried out by the Israeli Air Force, with jets flying at altitudes as low as 200 meters.
The nuclear reactor” that Israel said it struck in Deir ez-Zor (eastern Syria) in 2007 (Twitter)
Former Syrian regime’s response after reactor strike
On September 7, 2007, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that Israeli warplanes from the Mediterranean Sea had violated Syrian airspace “around 1 a.m.”
A Syrian military spokesperson said that “air defense units confronted them and forced them to withdraw after they dropped some ammunition in deserted areas, causing no human or material damage.”
No explanation was given for why such an incident was concealed for nearly half a day.
An Israeli military spokesperson told state radio at the time that “this incident never happened.”
Meanwhile, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said during a daily press briefing that he had only heard “indirect reports” that “contradicted each other.”
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