US and Syria Strike Secret Accord to Remove Clandestine Nuclear Stockpile

The United States has brokered a secret agreement with Syria's new government and Israel, enabling international inspectors to extract undeclared nuclear material from a clandestine facility, defusing a months-long diplomatic crisis.

Under the deal signed three weeks ago, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will access "Site 99," a covert facility holding leftover material from former dictator Bashar al-Assad's secret nuclear program, to safely remove radioactive stockpiles before the end of the year.

Diplomatic Intervention

The negotiations unfolded discreetly over several months, driven by White House national security officials and their Israeli counterparts aiming to secure the material without triggering broader military confrontation, according to Axios.

"Very few people in the U.S., Israel and Syria were aware of this," a U.S. official said, highlighting the sensitivity of the diplomatic channel with the post-Assad administration.

American officials raised the issue directly with Damascus, where new authorities claimed to be unaware that nuclear stockpiles remained stored at the facility.

"When we work with the Syrians on things, they are good partners," the U.S. official noted, highlighting growing bilateral cooperation on legacy security issues inherited from the previous regime.

Security Risks at Site 99

Site 99 contained remnants linked to the Al-Kibar reactor, a clandestine site destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in 2007.

Among the materials stored at the location was yellowcake, a processed uranium ore powder that, while incapable of fueling a nuclear warhead, poses significant radiological risks if used in a dirty bomb.

Following the collapse of the Assad regime, Israeli forces struck the entrances of Site 99 to prevent unauthorized access.

Tensions and Extraction Plan

Tensions mounted weeks ago when activity detected around the site prompted concerns in Israel that Syrian authorities, potentially assisted by Türkiye, were seeking access to the radioactive material.

Israeli officials threatened renewed military action, prompting Washington to step in, request restraint, and engage the IAEA to formalize a safe extraction protocol.

The resulting multilateral understanding cleared the way for IAEA intervention, satisfying regional security concerns while avoiding further military strikes.

Operations to safely remove the radioactive material are ongoing, with officials projecting completion in the coming months.

"We think everybody is happy with the result. Hopefully we will be able to kick off the removal process soon and end it before the end of the year," the U.S. official said.