A report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that the site at Deir Az Zor, which was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in 2007, was intended to be a nuclear reactor. According to the UN nuclear watchdog, the facility was built under the administration of Bashar al-Assad without the required notification to international authorities. The IAEA investigation concluded that the site possessed features consistent with a gas-cooled, graphite-moderated reactor, which is a type of technology capable of producing plutonium.

The IAEA report emphasizes that Syria failed to report nuclear material, facilities, and related activities as required by its Safeguards Agreement. This failure constitutes a breach of international non-proliferation standards. While the Syrian government has historically denied that the site was nuclear, the IAEA’s findings provide a technical assessment that contradicts these previous denials. The report highlights the lack of transparency from Syrian officials during the investigation process, noting that the agency was denied access to the site following the 2007 strike, which hindered the ability to conduct a comprehensive on-site inspection.

This development marks a significant point in the history of nuclear non-proliferation in the Middle East. The IAEA’s conclusion serves as a formal recognition of the clandestine nature of the project. The agency continues to call for Syria to cooperate fully and provide further information regarding the origin of the nuclear materials and the intended purpose of the facility, though the Syrian government has maintained its stance that the allegations are politically motivated.