{
  "id": 1728556,
  "title": "Nuclear material discovered in Syria, FM says it will remain under Damascus's control",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/nuclear-material-discovered-in-syria-fm-says-it-will-remain-under",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T14:52:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-905903"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani confirmed to Saudi news outlet Al-Hadath that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discovered nuclear material in Syria during a joint press conference in Damascus. Shaibani assured that the material, found at the Dier al-Zor site, will remain under Syrian control and will be safely managed according to IAEA standards. He explained that Syria voluntarily allowed the IAEA access to the site. The minister emphasized that Damascus has the right to utilize the material for peaceful civil purposes. Cooperation between Syria and the IAEA has progressed significantly since the end of the Assad regime in late 2024. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi revealed that the agency accessed the site upon notification from the Syrian government. Although Syria is not believed to possess operational nuclear weapons, Israel conducted a bombing raid in 2007 targeting a suspected nuclear reactor in Dier al-Zor province.",
  "summary": "Syria is not known to hold operational stockpiles of nuclear material for a weapons program, but Israel bombed a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007 in the country's eastern province.",
  "key_points": [
    "IAEA found nuclear material at Dier al-Zor site in Syria.",
    "Foreign Minister Shaibani assured material will remain under Syrian control.",
    "Syria voluntarily allowed IAEA inspection of the site."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "What US sanctions on Syria remain as Shibani, Barrack hold talks?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/what-us-sanctions-on-syria-remain-as-shibani-barrack-hold-talks",
        "published": "2026-08-18T14:17:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "IAEA chief: Tons of nuclear material found at secret Syria site",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/iaea-chief-tons-of-nuclear-material-found-at-secret-syria-site",
        "published": "2026-08-18T14:17:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Syria admits to possessing nuclear material",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/syria-admits-to-possessing-nuclear-material",
        "published": "2026-08-18T14:32:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "UN watchdog excavates suspected Syrian nuclear site as Damascus pledges safeguards",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/un-watchdog-excavates-suspected-syrian-nuclear-site-as-damascus",
        "published": "2026-08-18T15:33:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Syria says nuclear material to remain under its control, international supervision",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/syria-says-nuclear-material-to-remain-under-its-control-international",
        "published": "2026-08-18T15:54:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "IAEA finds ‘few tons’ of nuclear material in Syria, says it will go under ‘safeguards’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/iaea-finds-few-tons-of-nuclear-material-in-syria-says-it-will-go",
        "published": "2026-08-18T17:28:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}