Syria's bombed nuclear reactor was configured for weapons production: IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Syria's Al-Kibar nuclear reactor was configured to enable weapons production, according to the UN body's assessment of the clandestine facility. The reactor, which was bombed during an Israeli military operation in 2007, has since come under IAEA monitoring and safeguards as part of international nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

The IAEA's determination represents a formal acknowledgment of the reactor's true purpose during Syria's earlier nuclear programme. The facility's design and infrastructure indicated it was intended to produce plutonium suitable for military applications, according to the agency's technical analysis.

Syria has maintained limited transparency regarding its nuclear activities, and the country's ongoing conflict has complicated international verification efforts. The placement of remaining material from the site under IAEA safeguards represents a significant step in preventing potential proliferation risks from the abandoned programme.

The discovery and subsequent destruction of the reactor marked one of the most significant undisclosed nuclear facilities uncovered in recent decades. The IAEA's continued oversight seeks to ensure that no weapons-usable material remains outside international control.