What did the IAEA discover in Syria?

The IAEA discovered several tons of nuclear material at an undeclared site in Syria, which the authorities reported in July 2026.

Where is the disputed site located?

The site is located in Deir Ez-Zor in eastern Syria, where the IAEA suspects a nuclear reactor previously existed.

Will the nuclear material be removed from Syria?

No, the materials will remain in Syria and will be subject to IAEA supervision, with Syrian experts cooperating with the agency on safe storage.

Why is this discovery significant?

This is the first time in more than 18 years that Syria has granted IAEA access to that site, and Director General Grossi warned of potential misuse of the materials.

World

IAEA Finds Several Tons of Nuclear Material in Syria, Damascus Voluntarily Reported It

B.D. · Prije 1 dana | 3 min

Director General Rafael Grossi Warns of Potential Misuse, While Damascus Grants Access to Deir Ez-Zor Site for the First Time in 18 Years.

Summary

The IAEA discovered several tons of nuclear material in Syria that could be misused.
Syria granted inspectors access to the Deir Ez-Zor site for the first time in 18 years.
The materials will remain in Syria under international supervision by the IAEA.
Director General Rafael Grossi praised Damascus's 'courageous decision' to voluntarily report the site.

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In a report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is stated that several tons of nuclear material were found in Syria, at a site that the Syrian authorities reported during July. The news was announced on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at a joint press conference in Damascus by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

"We are talking about several tons of nuclear material that could be misused," Grossi said. He praised Damascus's "courageous decision" to report this undeclared site, which dates back to the era of former President Bashar al-Assad, and indicated that the materials would be placed under international supervision.

Voluntary Report and Sovereign Decision

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani explained that Damascus sent an official letter to the agency on July 17, 2026. "We sent an official letter to the agency on July 17 in which we voluntarily reported the presence of nuclear material at an undeclared site, part of the legacy left by the former regime," al-Shaibani said.

According to a report by the Russian state agency TASS, al-Shaibani emphasized that Syria granted access to the facility in Deir ez-Zor after more than 18 years, "on its own initiative and by its sovereign decision." He added that Damascus "confirms that transparency is its own choice and is committed to strengthening cooperation with the IAEA."

Materials Remain Under Supervision

According to technical assessments, "these materials do not pose a risk," said the Syrian minister. "The materials will remain in Syria and will be subject to the agency's supervision," he added. Grossi confirmed that Syrian experts will cooperate with those from the UN agency to ensure the safe storage of the materials.

Grossi and his team from the agency completed a tour of the area this morning and collected the samples they needed. In addition, an IAEA official also visited the site in Deir Ez-Zor, located in the eastern part of Syria, which the agency suspects was previously home to a nuclear reactor.

History of the Site

The Atomic Energy Agency last year reported that it had found uranium particles at the site during an inspection in 2024. In 2018, Israel admitted that in 2007 it had carried out a covert air operation targeting a nuclear reactor under construction, as it described.

The context of this discovery also includes the change of government in Syria: in December 2024, a coalition of Islamist groups toppled the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, ending his family's decades-long rule.