Posted on 09/06/22
| News Source: i24
Five years prior to the attack, Syria was running a secret nuclear project
Fifteen years ago today, Israel carried out airstrikes in eastern Syria targeting a suspected nuclear reactor, in a mission dubbed Operation "Outside the Box."
The Israeli army's intelligence division on Tuesday disclosed the fact that five years prior to the air raid - in 2002 - Syria was running a secret project, later revealed to be the nuclear reactor in the Deir ez-Zor region.
On September 6, 2007, the Syrian nuclear reactor was attacked and destroyed by warplanes, as part of a complex intelligence and operational effort which removed the nuclear threat to Israel.
In a special intelligence document from 2002, only recently cleared for publication, intelligence assessments described Syria trying to promote a strategic project.
“It became known that within the framework of the Syrian Atomic Energy Commission, secret projects are underway (or at least were underway) that we were not aware of,” the assessment read.
“The information does not indicate an active military nuclear program underway in Syria, but it does indicate the occupation of those who can contribute to the development of those fields and the program, and raises suspicion of the beginning of the development of such a program.”