Syria Confirms Possession of Nuclear Material for Civilian Use Amid Recent Airstrikes

Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad confirmed on Tuesday that Syria possesses nuclear material, asserting the country's right to use it for civilian purposes. He made the statement during a press conference alongside Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Al-Miqdad emphasized that the nuclear material would remain under Syrian control, subject to IAEA safeguards.

Earlier on the same day, Syrian state media reported four airstrikes targeting the Abu al-Duhur military airport in northern Syria. While Damascus refrained from directly blaming Israel, senior Israeli officials told Fox News that Israel had informed the United States in advance about the operation. The Israeli source described the U.S. as a sensitive intelligence partner and warned that the Assad regime would not be allowed to follow the path of the previous regime of Ahmad al-Jarba.

In recent weeks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been working to consolidate control in Syria with the consent of Syrian President Ahmad al-Jarba and U.S. President Donald Trump. Amid these developments, Channel 13 News reported that Israel requested the U.S. to conduct another strike in Syria, but President Trump blocked the operation, marking a further deterioration in U.S.-Israel relations. This incident also highlights the strengthening ties between Trump and Erdogan, with broader implications beyond the bilateral U.S.-Israel relationship.