IAEA confirms Syria built nuclear reactor in Deir Az Zor under al-Assad

September 2, 2026 at 06:21 AM2 min

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The IAEA confirmed Syria constructed a nuclear reactor in Deir Az Zor under Bashar al-Assad. The agency said Syria failed to report nuclear material, facilities and activities. The confirmation follows inspections in August and access granted by the new government after al-Assad's removal.

Key Facts

The IAEA confirmed that cooling infrastructure uncovered at Deir Az Zor is consistent with a nuclear reactor.
Syria failed to report nuclear material, facilities and activities under Bashar al-Assad, the IAEA said.
The IAEA listed a fuel fabrication plant and a storage location for nuclear fuel, uranium scrap and waste.
Israel launched air strikes in 2007 that destroyed the Deir Az Zor facility.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited Syria in August with a team of senior inspectors.

Reactor Confirmation

The IAEA said its observations at the Deir Az Zor site confirm that the uncovered cooling infrastructure is consistent with that of a nuclear reactor. The agency stated it would continue to monitor activities at the site as excavation work progresses. Syria was believed to have operated an extensive undeclared nuclear programme under al-Assad that included a nuclear reactor built by North Korea in Deir Az Zor. The site became public knowledge after Israel launched air strikes in 2007 that destroyed the facility. Syria later levelled the site and never responded fully to the IAEA's questions about it.

Undeclared Facilities

The IAEA reported that the former Syrian authorities failed to report nuclear material, facilities and activities. Besides the reactor under construction at Deir Az Zor, the IAEA listed a fuel fabrication plant where nuclear fuel for the reactor was manufactured. The agency also identified a location where nuclear fuel, uranium scrap and waste were stored. During the visit, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and senior inspectors also visited a previously undeclared site.

Inspection Access

Following al-Assad's removal in early December 2024, the new government agreed to give IAEA inspectors access to suspected former nuclear sites. The agency took samples at the site in 2024 and reported last year that they contained uranium particles. The IAEA visited several sites in Syria in August and carried out verification work.