International atomic inspectors have expanded an ongoing verification campaign at a newly disclosed legacy nuclear site in Syria, following the first direct site visit by senior United Nations officials. According to reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and international news outlets, agency experts are conducting excavations, sampling, and cooperative technical assessments alongside Syrian atomic-energy personnel.
The inspection effort centers on facilities linked to the former administration of Bashar al-Assad, including a location in Deir ez-Zor. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed that inspectors gained entry to examine undeclared nuclear material—reportedly including uranium metal and several tons of legacy material—after Damascus formally notified the agency in a July letter.
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated that the current government invited the IAEA delegation to verify the inventory. Under the ongoing arrangement, the material remains in Syrian custody while being placed under international safeguards. Officials from the agency noted that while initial access marks a critical step toward resolving long-standing verification questions, a complete inventory and further analytical work remain necessary.
The site visits represent the first time in approximately 18 years that international inspectors have been granted full access to investigate suspicious nuclear infrastructure in the Deir ez-Zor area, which has remained closed and heavily scrutinized since a covert reactor project was targeted decades ago. The expanded field work involves detailed environmental sampling and technical cooperation designed to account for all residual material remaining from the Assad era.
The IAEA's historical file on Syria dates back to investigations into the Al-Kibar facility in Deir ez-Zor, which was destroyed in 2007. For nearly two decades, inquiries into undeclared nuclear activities and associated materials remained stalled due to a lack of transparency and subsequent conflict.
The recent self-declaration by Syrian authorities and the subsequent arrival of IAEA leadership open a path toward addressing compliance questions that have persisted since the collapse of the previous regime's covert atomic program.
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