The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Syria attempted to build a nuclear reactor in the eastern province of Deir Az Zor during the tenure of former President Bashar Al-Assad. In a confidential report released this week, the agency detailed verification activities conducted at multiple sites in Syria during August.

The IAEA’s investigation focused on the Deir Az Zor location, where the agency identified cooling infrastructure consistent with that typically used for a nuclear reactor. Officials said they will continue to monitor ongoing excavation efforts at the site to assess further developments.

Syria’s efforts to develop an undeclared nuclear program under Al-Assad, including a reactor reportedly built with North Korean assistance, became internationally known after Israel destroyed the Deir Az Zor facility in an airstrike in 2007. Following the attack, Syria demolished the site and provided limited information to the IAEA about its activities there.

After Bashar Al-Assad was ousted in December 2024, the new Syrian administration granted IAEA inspectors access to sites suspected of nuclear development. The agency collected environmental samples at Deir Az Zor in 2024, which revealed the presence of uranium particles. The latest report also confirmed that previous Syrian authorities failed to disclose nuclear materials, facilities, and activities to the agency.

In addition to the incomplete reactor, the IAEA identified other related facilities, including a fuel fabrication plant responsible for producing nuclear fuel for the reactor, as well as a storage area containing nuclear fuel, uranium scrap, and radioactive waste.

The IAEA’s findings underscore continued concerns about Syria’s undeclared nuclear activities and highlight ongoing international efforts to ensure transparency and nonproliferation in the region. The agency’s monitoring and verification work is expected to remain a priority as excavation and inspection continue.