After the Israeli attacks last night (between Monday and Tuesday) in northern Syria, Damascus confirms that it possesses nuclear material. Syrian Foreign Minister Asad Hassan al-Sheibani said in a press conference with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Raphael Grossi, that Syria possesses such material and will use it for “energy and peace” purposes.
Al-Sheibani: “Syria has the right to use nuclear energy for civilian purposes, and it allows the IAEA to reach the site in Deir ez-Zor on its own initiative, and is committed to transparency.” The minister added that “Syria has adhered to diplomacy in order to dissuade Israel from continuing its attacks.” Syria’s announcement came about a week after the IAEA planned to release uranium that was hidden in the country’s territory. According to Axios, the agency planned to reach a site in Syria, where it is claimed that nuclear material hidden since the days of Assad’s rule was found, and collect it from the country’s territory. The report also revealed that Israel threatened to attack the compound with bombings and announced that it would not tolerate its existence.
The Israeli attack last night was in the Tartus province in northwestern Syria, near the Mediterranean coast. The target of these attacks was, among other things, a Syrian air force military base and was aimed at the runways and storage warehouses, according to Arab media. The US envoy to Syria and Lebanon, Tom Barrack, condemned the attack.