**US and Israel Reach Agreement with Syria to Remove Nuclear Material from Secret Site**
In a significant development regarding regional security, the United States and Israel have come to an agreement with the Syrian government to remove nuclear material from a clandestine site in Syria, known as Site 99. This information was reported by Axios on Monday, citing officials from both the US and Israel.
The deal allows the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to access Site 99 to recover nuclear material that is believed to be remnants from Syria's Al-Kibar nuclear reactor. This reactor was targeted and bombed by Israel in 2007 due to concerns over its potential military applications.
Site 99 reportedly contains yellowcake, a concentrated form of uranium powder that can be processed into nuclear fuel. While yellowcake itself is not directly usable for creating nuclear weapons, it poses a risk if dispersed using conventional explosives, potentially leading to radiological contamination—a scenario often referred to as a "dirty bomb."
The urgency surrounding the removal of this material has been heightened by recent events. Following the capture of Damascus by a coalition of US-backed rebel groups in December 2024, Israeli forces reportedly bombed the entrances to Site 99. An Israeli official indicated that Israel had issued a warning, threatening further military action if the nuclear material was not removed or if there were indications that Syria was attempting to access it.
The political landscape in Syria has shifted with the rise of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former jihadist commander who was previously on the US wanted list. Al-Sharaa has been actively seeking to improve Syria's relations with Western nations and attract foreign aid to assist in the recovery from the civil war that has devastated the country since 2011. In a notable move, he disclosed last month that he was in the process of negotiating a security agreement with Israel, which has expanded its military presence in southwestern Syria since 2024, beyond the Golan Heights, which it has occupied since 1967.
In addition to improving ties with Israel, al-Sharaa's administration has also been working to normalize relations with Russia, which provided military support to the previous regime of Bashar Assad. Earlier this month, Moscow and Damascus reached an agreement to reorganize the Russian Khmeimim airbase and naval facility in Tartous into joint training centers, allowing Russia to maintain a military foothold in Syria even after Assad's government faced significant challenges.
The agreement to remove nuclear material from Site 99 marks a crucial step in addressing potential nuclear proliferation risks in the region. The involvement of the IAEA underscores the international community's commitment to monitoring and ensuring compliance with nuclear safety protocols.
As the situation develops, the implications of this agreement will be closely watched by regional and global stakeholders, particularly in the context of ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The cooperation between the US, Israel, and Syria, albeit under complex circumstances, could signal a shift in diplomatic relations and security dynamics in the region.