Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have detected traces of uranium in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor province, where a site belonging to Syrian leader Bashar Assad was destroyed in 2007.
According to Reuters, the IAEA suspects that this building, previously known as a military base, may be a secret nuclear reactor, although the Syrian government has denied this. The detected uranium traces are of anthropogenic origin, meaning they were produced through chemical processing.
The IAEA detected 'a significant number of natural uranium particles in samples taken from one of three locations. The analysis of these particles showed that the uranium has an anthropogenic origin, meaning it was produced as a result of chemical processing.'
The term 'natural' means that the uranium has not been enriched. A final conclusion on the significance of the detected traces has not yet been made.
The organization reported that it gained access to the site in June of this year and signed an agreement with the Director General of the IAEA and the President of Syria for cooperation and transparency in researching the country’s past nuclear activities.
The uranium found in Syria may indicate the existence of potential nuclear activities in the country in the past. The detected traces support the IAEA's suspicions regarding the possible functioning of a secret nuclear reactor at the site of the former military base of the Syrian leader. A thorough investigation of this issue could have significant implications for the international community.