UN Watchdog: Syria's Secret Reactor Could Have Produced Nuclear Weapons Material

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has revealed that a clandestine reactor built during the Assad era in Syria, if completed, would have possessed the capability to produce fissile material for potential nuclear weapons. Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently visited two sites in Syria, including one in Deir ez-Zor and another undisclosed location.

This revelation raises significant concerns about Syria's past nuclear ambitions and its potential to develop weapons of mass destruction. The existence of such a facility, kept secret from international oversight, underscores the challenges in verifying nuclear programs and maintaining global security. The IAEA's findings are expected to have implications for regional stability and international non-proliferation efforts.