Conflict & Security
Syria nuclear material found at undeclared site, IAEA says
International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi said Tuesday that the UN watchdog found several tons of nuclear material at a previously undeclared site in Syria that dated from the country's previous authorities.
Speaking at a news conference in Damascus, Grossi said the agency gained access after being informed of another site where nuclear material had been stored. He said the material amounted to “a few tons” and “could be put to bad use”.
Syria had said the IAEA collected samples from a site with nuclear materials.
Update
Rafael Grossi said the nuclear material was found at a previously undeclared site in Syria.
Grossi said the site dated from the rule of Syria's previous authorities.
Grossi said the IAEA gained access after being informed of another site where nuclear material had been stored.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 August 2026 at 14:11:34 UTC.
Update
The IAEA chief said the watchdog found “tons of nuclear materials that could be put to bad use” in Syria.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 August 2026 at 13:53:26 UTC.
Update
Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Syria sent an official letter to the agency on July 17 declaring the materials.
Shaibani said the nuclear materials were at an undeclared site linked to the legacy of the former regime.
Shaibani said Rafael Grossi and an agency team completed a site visit and collected samples.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 August 2026 at 13:57:14 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The exact type, condition and location of the nuclear material were not specified in the supplied material.
The discovery is attributed to Grossi; no separate verification of the material is supplied.
Source
AFP news report published on .