UN watchdog begins excavation at suspected Syrian nuclear site: What to know

On Tuesday, the UN nuclear watchdog began evacuating a suspected nuclear site in Syria as Damascus commits to reinforcing protection- a move that comes as international officials seek more information about the site and Syria’s nuclear activities.

The announcement came as Syria’s new government has vowed to coordinate with the watchdog.

On Thursday, Syria’s top diplomat stated that Damascus maintains nuclear energy ambitions under global defense. According to former President Bashar Assad, Syria was thought to have operated a clandestine nuclear weapons program that included a nuclear reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir Ezzor province.

The statement from International Atomic Energy Agency’s direct-general Rafael Mariano Grossi reads: “Myself and the team, we were inside the site of Deir Ezzor, where very comprehensive work of evacuation and exploration is taking place now.”

Syria seeks to announce plans to develop nuclear energy. In this connection, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani said: “Syria confirms based on technical evaluations that this material does not pose any danger.”

For those unversed, the site in Deir Ezzor only became public following Israel launched airstrikes in 2007 that ruined the facility. Additionally, Syria later breached its safety terms by failing to answer the IAEA’s questions about it; all while Israel is believed to be the Middle East’s only state with nuclear weapons despite never declaring its program.