Former Mossad Official Downplays Threat of Syria’s Site 99, Highlights Israeli Intelligence Successes

A former senior Mossad official addressed recent reports about "Site 99" in Syria, emphasizing that the main threat from the site was neutralized years ago. He explained that the original nuclear facility in Deir ez-Zor, which was on track to become a plutonium-producing reactor for military enrichment, was completely destroyed by the Israeli Air Force in September 2007. The official reassured that ongoing monitoring ensures no attempts to restart the nuclear program at the site.

He described current reports as a process of closing old chapters rather than new threats, praising Israel’s persistent intelligence efforts to fully dismantle dangerous nuclear projects linked to regimes like Assad’s and groups such as Al-Jolani. The official also referenced revelations by former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen about Israeli and American intelligence operations inside Iran, highlighting a successful U.S. airstrike on the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility, located deep under a mountain.

Regarding the possibility of regime change in Iran, the former official expressed skepticism about Kurdish militias’ ability to achieve this, citing potential complications with Turkey and regional Kurdish populations in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. He suggested that such an outcome could destabilize the broader region rather than resolve the issue.

The comments were made during a broadcast on 103FM on August 11, 2026, providing context to recent media coverage and underscoring Israel’s continued vigilance against nuclear threats in the Middle East.