Inspectors in Syria
23 June 2008
A team from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) flew to Syria on 22 June to examine the alleged nuclear site near Al Kibar. In September 2007, Israeli jets bombed a building there, which US intelligence officials said was a graphite moderated nuclear reactor suitable for weapons-grade plutonium production. The affair has drawn criticism from IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei, who "deplored" the "deeply regrettable" facts that the USA and Israel had not submitted the information they had to his agency, and also that the Syrians - if they had been building a nuclear facility - had not made that known to the IAEA. Ayhan Evrendsel of the agency confirmed to World Nuclear News that the team of inspectors would spend about three days in Syria inspecting the site and talking with Syrian officials. Findings will be reported to ElBaradei.