Kathmandu— The United States and Israel have reached an agreement with Syria to remove nuclear material from a secret facility known as Site 99, according to reports citing officials familiar with the arrangement. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will gain access to the site—the location of Syria’s Al-Kibar reactor bombed by Israel in 2007—to recover yellowcake, a concentrated uranium powder. While not immediately usable for weapons, the material poses a radiological contamination risk if dispersed as a “dirty bomb.”

Site Access and Material Recovery

The agreement allows the IAEA to access Site 99 and retrieve remnants from the Al-Kibar reactor. The site contains yellowcake, which while not directly weaponizable, could be used in a radiological dispersal device. Israel reportedly bombed the entrances to the site after rebel groups captured Damascus in December 2024, threatening further action if the material wasn’t removed or access attempted.

Syria's Shifting Alliances

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who previously led a jihadist group and was once sought by US authorities, has been working to improve relations with Western nations and secure foreign aid for the war-torn country. He recently revealed ongoing negotiations for a security agreement with Israel, which has occupied parts of southwestern Syria since 2024, extending its control beyond the Golan Heights—territory held since 1967.

Russian Military Presence Maintained

Alongside efforts to normalize relations with the West, al-Sharaa’s government is also strengthening ties with Russia. Moscow and Damascus recently agreed to convert Russian military facilities – Khmeimim airbase and a naval facility in Tartous – into joint training centers, ensuring continued Russian military presence in Syria following the removal of Bashar Assad.

The agreement marks a significant step towards securing potentially dangerous nuclear material and reflects shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region as Syria navigates new alliances after years of civil war.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.