The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is reportedly preparing an operation to remove nuclear material from a site in Syria. The material in question dates back to the era before the 2007 Israeli airstrike on the Al-Kibar facility, which was suspected of being a clandestine nuclear reactor. According to reports, the material includes yellowcake, a substance that could potentially be repurposed for a radiological dispersal device, commonly known as a dirty bomb.

The impetus for this removal appears to be external pressure. Reports indicate that Israeli officials communicated to the United States that they would consider military action against the site if the nuclear material was not safely secured or removed. This ultimatum reportedly prompted the IAEA to negotiate a deal with the Syrian government to oversee the extraction of the substances. While the IAEA has not released a formal public statement confirming the specifics of the operation, the move is being framed as a necessary step to mitigate regional security risks associated with the legacy of Syria’s past nuclear ambitions. The Syrian government has historically denied the existence of an active nuclear weapons program, though international inspectors have long expressed concerns regarding the remnants of the site destroyed in 2007.