Secret Assad-era Syrian nuclear reactor was almost complete: UN

A near-complete nuclear reactor built secretly during the rule of toppled Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad would have been able to produce material to make nuclear weapons, the U.N. nuclear watchdog chief has said.

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last month visited two sites, one in Deir Ezzor and a second undisclosed location identified to them by Syrian authorities.

In a report seen by AFP last week, the IAEA said it found that Syria’s previous government was building a nuclear reactor.

Assad was toppled in December 2024 and the current government came to power.