According to Axios, the Trump administration has reached an agreement with Damascus, Jerusalem, and the IAEA to remove remnants of Assad's secret nuclear program from the 'Site 99' facility.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has brokered a secret agreement between Syria, Israel, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to remove nuclear material left over from the secret program of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The news was reported on Monday by Axios, citing Israeli and American officials.
The material is reportedly located at a site known as 'Site 99' and includes yellowcake and other remnants from the Al-Kibar nuclear reactor project. Although it cannot be directly used to produce nuclear weapons, US officials warn that there is a risk of it being used in a so-called 'dirty bomb.'
Israel has closely monitored Syrian nuclear facilities, paying particular attention to 'Site 99.' According to Axios, Jerusalem made it clear that it would not allow nuclear material to remain at that location. Unofficially, there were even threats to bomb the facility again if the material was not removed or if Syria showed signs of attempting to access it.
Additional concern was raised by reports that Turkey might assist the new Syrian government in accessing the material. The fear of a potential escalation of conflict between Israel, Syria, and Turkey was a key driver for the accelerated diplomatic efforts by the US.
The US and Israel had been discussing the best way to resolve the 'Site 99' issue for over a year. After months of threats and diplomatic correspondence, a solution was reached several weeks ago, and the entire process was kept under tight secrecy.
'Very few people in the US, Israel, and Syria were aware of this,' a US official told Axios. He also noted that the new Syrian government has proven to be a 'good partner' in this newly established cooperation.
The Al-Kibar reactor, a plutonium production facility located in the Dayr Az Zawr region in northeastern Syria, was built during the rule of Bashar al-Assad. Following Assad's fall, the IAEA signed an agreement with the new Syrian government to visit the reactor and other nuclear sites.
Interestingly, Syrian officials, according to sources, denied having any knowledge of nuclear material at 'Site 99.' The operation to remove the material is ongoing, and according to Clash Report, it is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The agreement comes amid strengthening ties between the US and the new Syrian administration. President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on July 8, 2026, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. That meeting, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, confirms Trump's approach to Syria and shows how his administration uses close ties with Damascus to neutralize potential crises.
