IAEA Director‑General Rafael Grossi said on Monday a reactor built in Deir ez‑Zor during the Assad era was designed to efficiently produce fissile material directly usable for nuclear weapons. The IAEA, which inspected the site in August with cooperation from Syria’s new government, confirmed newly discovered cooling infrastructure consistent with a reactor, found previously concealed nuclear material now placed under IAEA safeguards, and has installed on‑site cameras; monitoring will continue a

IAEA Director‑General Rafael Grossi said on Monday a reactor built in Deir ez‑Zor during the Assad era was designed to efficiently produce fissile material directly usable for nuclear weapons. The IAEA, which inspected the site in August with cooperation from Syria’s new government, confirmed newly discovered cooling infrastructure consistent with a reactor, found previously concealed nuclear material now placed under IAEA safeguards, and has installed on‑site cameras; monitoring will continue as excavation proceeds.