Examine individual changes

'@@ -10,57 +10,78 @@ |executed = September 6, 2007 |executed_by = [[F-15E Strike Eagle#F-15I|F-15I Ra'am]] fighters<br/>[[F-16I|F-16I Sufa]] fighters<br/>1 [[ELINT]] [[Surveillance aircraft|aircraft]]<br/>1 [[helicopter]]<br/>[[Shaldag Unit|Shaldag]] special forces |outcome = Success. Destruction of the site. -|casualties = 10 North Korean workers allegedly killed.<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Tak Kumakura]]|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aErPTWRFZpJI&refer=japan|title=North Koreans May Have Died in Israel Attack on Syria, NHK Says|publisher=''Bloomberg''|date=April 28, 2008|accessdate= April 28, 2008|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aErPTWRFZpJI&refer=japan|archivedate=October 25, 2012}}</ref> +|casualties = 10 North Korean workers allegedly killed.<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Tak Kumakura]]|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aErPTWRFZpJI&refer=japan|title=North Koreans May Have Died in Israel Attack on Syria, NHK Says|publisher=''Bloomberg''|date=April 28, 2008|accessdate=April 28, 2008|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aErPTWRFZpJI&refer=japan|archivedate=October 25, 2012}}</ref> }} {{Airstrikes on Syria}} -'''Operation Orchard'''<ref name="Observer">{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Beaumont |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2170188,00.html|title=Was Israeli raid a dry run for attack on Iran?|publisher=''[[The Observer]]''|date=September 16, 2007|accessdate=September 16, 2007|location=London|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2170188,00.html|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last= Stephens|first=Bret|url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB119007716759630639|title=Osirak II|newspaper=''The Wall Street Journal''|date=September 18, 2007|accessdate= September 19, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB119007716759630639|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> ('''{{lang-he| מבצע בוסתן}}''', '''Mivtza bustan''') was an [[Israel]]i [[airstrike]] on a nuclear reactor<ref name="ynetnews.com">[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4062001,00.html IAEA: Syria tried to build nuclear reactor] Associated Press Latest Update: 04.28.11, 18:10</ref> in the [[Deir ez-Zor Governorate|Deir ez-Zor region]]<ref>"[http://africa.reuters.com/world/news/usnSCH233520.html Officials say Israel raid on [[Syria]] triggered by arms fears]", Reuters, 2007-09-12. Retrieved on 2007-09-18.</ref> of Syria carried out just after midnight (local time) on September 6, 2007. The [[White House]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) later confirmed that American intelligence had also indicated the site was a nuclear facility with a military purpose, though Syria denies this.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWIBgbzyBkHnJzQeMi80gXfjX0-Q|title=NKorea-Syria nuclear work had military aims: White House|agency=Associated French Press|date=April 24, 2008|accessdate=April 24, 2008|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWIBgbzyBkHnJzQeMi80gXfjX0-Q|archivedate=May 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=May 2008|url=http://www.syria-today.com/index.php/may-2008/313-news/1837-syria-denies-us-allegations-over-nuclear-reactor|title=Syria denies US allegations over nuclear reactor|publisher=''Syria Today''|year=2008|issue=5|volume=1|issn=1812-8637|accessdate=February 4, 2010}}</ref> An [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA) investigation reported evidence of uranium and graphite and concluded that the site bore features resembling an undeclared nuclear reactor. IAEA was initially unable to confirm or deny the nature of the site because, according to IAEA, Syria failed to provide necessary cooperation with the IAEA investigation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE51I45R20090219|author=Mark Heinrich|title=IAEA finds graphite, further uranium at Syria site|place=[[Vienna]]|date=February 19, 2009|accessdate=November 19, 2012|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE51I45R20090219|archivedate=November 14, 2012}}</ref><ref name="AFP"/> Syria has disputed these claims.<ref name="google.com">{{cite web|url= http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5itI7N4WBk_gmaIJgZsmJAgEwAgyA|title=AFP: No graphite found by IAEA at suspect site: Syria|publisher=[[Google]]|place=Vienna|date=February 24, 2009|accessdate=January 19, 2012|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5itI7N4WBk_gmaIJgZsmJAgEwAgyA|archivedate=May 14, 2013}}</ref> In April 2011, the IAEA officially confirmed that the site was a nuclear reactor.<ref name="ynetnews.com"/> +'''Operation Orchard'''<ref name="Observer">{{cite news|first=Peter|last=Beaumont |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2170188,00.html|title=Was Israeli raid a dry run for attack on Iran?|publisher=''[[The Observer]]''|date=September 16, 2007|accessdate=September 16, 2007|location=London|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2170188,00.html|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last= Stephens|first=Bret|url=http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB119007716759630639|title=Osirak II|newspaper=''The Wall Street Journal''|date=September 18, 2007|accessdate=September 19, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB119007716759630639|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> ('''{{lang-he| מבצע בוסתן}}''', '''Mivtza bustan''') was an [[Israel]]i [[airstrike]] on a nuclear reactor<ref name="ynetnews.com">[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4062001,00.html IAEA: Syria tried to build nuclear reactor] Associated Press Latest Update: 04.28.11, 18:10</ref> in the [[Deir ez-Zor Governorate|Deir ez-Zor region]]<ref>"[http://africa.reuters.com/world/news/usnSCH233520.html Officials say Israel raid on [[Syria]] triggered by arms fears]", Reuters, 2007-09-12. Retrieved on 2007-09-18.</ref> of Syria carried out just after midnight (local time) on September 6, 2007. The [[White House]] and [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) later confirmed that American intelligence had also indicated the site was a nuclear facility with a military purpose, though Syria denies this.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWIBgbzyBkHnJzQeMi80gXfjX0-Q|title=NKorea-Syria nuclear work had military aims: White House|agency=Associated French Press|date=April 24, 2008|accessdate=April 24, 2008|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jWIBgbzyBkHnJzQeMi80gXfjX0-Q|archivedate=May 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=May 2008|url=http://www.syria-today.com/index.php/may-2008/313-news/1837-syria-denies-us-allegations-over-nuclear-reactor|title=Syria denies US allegations over nuclear reactor|publisher=''Syria Today''|year=2008|issue=5|volume=1|issn=1812-8637|accessdate=February 4, 2010}}</ref> An [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA) investigation reported evidence of uranium and graphite and concluded that the site bore features resembling an undeclared nuclear reactor. IAEA was initially unable to confirm or deny the nature of the site because, according to IAEA, Syria failed to provide necessary cooperation with the IAEA investigation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE51I45R20090219|author=Mark Heinrich|title=IAEA finds graphite, further uranium at Syria site|place=[[Vienna]]|date=February 19, 2009|accessdate=November 19, 2012|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE51I45R20090219|archivedate=November 14, 2012}}</ref><ref name="AFP"/> Syria has disputed these claims.<ref name="google.com">{{cite web|url= http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5itI7N4WBk_gmaIJgZsmJAgEwAgyA|title=AFP: No graphite found by IAEA at suspect site: Syria|publisher=[[Google]]|place=Vienna|date=February 24, 2009|accessdate=January 19, 2012|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5itI7N4WBk_gmaIJgZsmJAgEwAgyA|archivedate=May 14, 2013}}</ref> In April 2011, the IAEA officially confirmed that the site was a nuclear reactor.<ref name="ynetnews.com"/> -According to news reports, the raid was carried out by [[Israeli Air Force]] (IAF) [[69 Squadron IAF|69 Squadron]] [[F-15E Strike Eagle#F-15I|F-15Is]],<ref name="Sunday Times Sep-16">{{cite news|author=[[Uzi Mahnaimi]]|title=Israelis ‘blew apart Syrian nuclear cache’|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2461421.ece|publisher=''[[The Sunday Times]]''|date=September 16, 2007|accessdate=July 13, 2008| location=London}}</ref> [[F-16I]]s, and an [[ELINT]] [[Surveillance aircraft|aircraft]]; as many as eight aircraft participated and at least four of these crossed into Syrian airspace.<ref name=Hersh>Hersh, Seymour. "[http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/02/11/080211fa_fact_hersh/ A Strike in the Dark]", ''The New Yorker'', 2008-02-11. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.</ref> The [[fighter aircraft|fighters]] were equipped with [[AGM-65 Maverick]] [[air-to-surface missile|missiles]], 500&nbsp;lb bombs, and external [[fuel tank]]s.<ref name="Observer"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Turkish-FM-slams-Israel-over-fuel-tanks|title=Turkish FM slams Israel over fuel tanks|publisher=''[[The Jerusalem Post]]''|date=September 10, 2007|accessdate=September 16, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Turkish-FM-slams-Israel-over-fuel-tanks|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> One report stated that a team of elite Israeli [[Shaldag Unit|Shaldag]] special-forces [[commando]]s arrived at the site the day before so that they could highlight the target with [[laser designator]]s,<ref name="Sunday Times Sep-16"/> while a later report identified [[Sayeret Matkal]] special-forces commandos as involved.<ref name="Sunday Times Sep-23">{{cite news|last=Mahnaimi|first=Uzi|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2512105.ece|title=Snatched: Israeli commandos ‘nuclear’ raid|newspaper=''The Sunday Times''|date=September 23, 2007|accessdate=September 23, 2007}}</</ref> +According to news reports, the raid was carried out by [[Israeli Air Force]] (IAF) [[69 Squadron IAF|69 Squadron]] [[F-15E Strike Eagle#F-15I|F-15Is]],<ref name="Sunday Times Sep-16">{{cite news|author=[[Uzi Mahnaimi]]|title=Israelis ‘blew apart Syrian nuclear cache’|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2461421.ece|publisher=''[[The Sunday Times]]''|date=September 16, 2007|accessdate=July 13, 2008| location=London}}</ref> [[F-16I]]s, and an [[ELINT]] [[Surveillance aircraft|aircraft]]; as many as eight aircraft participated and at least four of these crossed into Syrian airspace.<ref name=Hersh>Hersh, Seymour. "[http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/02/11/080211fa_fact_hersh/ A Strike in the Dark]", ''The New Yorker'', 2008-02-11. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.</ref> The [[fighter aircraft|fighters]] were equipped with [[AGM-65 Maverick]] [[air-to-surface missile|missiles]], 500&nbsp;lb bombs, and external [[fuel tank]]s.<ref name="Observer"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Turkish-FM-slams-Israel-over-fuel-tanks|title=Turkish FM slams Israel over fuel tanks|publisher=''[[The Jerusalem Post]]''|date=September 10, 2007|accessdate=September 16, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Turkish-FM-slams-Israel-over-fuel-tanks|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> One report stated that a team of elite Israeli [[Shaldag Unit|Shaldag]] special-forces [[commando]]s arrived at the site the day before so that they could highlight the target with [[laser designator]]s,<ref name="Sunday Times Sep-16"/> while a later report identified [[Sayeret Matkal]] special-forces commandos as involved.<ref name="Sunday Times Sep-23">{{cite news|last=Mahnaimi|first=Uzi|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2512105.ece|title=Snatched: Israeli commandos ‘nuclear’ raid|newspaper=''The Sunday Times''|date=September 23, 2007|accessdate=September 23, 2007}}</</ref> ==Pre-strike activity== In 2001, the [[Mossad]], Israel's external intelligence service, was profiling newly inducted Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]]. Visits by [[North Korea]]n dignitaries, which focused on advanced arms deliveries, were noticed. [[Military Intelligence Directorate (Israel)|Aman]], Israel's [[military intelligence]] department, suggested nuclear arms were being discussed, but the Mossad dismissed this theory. In spring 2004, U.S. intelligence reported multiple communications between Syria and North Korea, and traced the calls to a desert location called al-Kibar. [[Unit 8200]], Israel's [[signals intelligence]] and codebreaking unit, added the location to its watch list.<ref name="strike in the desert"/> On April 22, 2004, [[Ryongchon disaster|a massive explosion]] occurred on a North Korean freight train heading for the port of [[Namp'o]]. According to British intelligence writer [[Gordon Thomas (author)|Gordon Thomas]], the Mossad had learned that dozens of Syrian nuclear technicians were in a compartment adjoining a sealed wagon. According to Thomas, the Syrians had arrived in North Korea to collect the fissionable material stored in the wagon. All of the technicians were killed in the train explosion. Their bodies were flown to Syria in lead-encased coffins aboard a Syrian military plane. A wide area around the explosion site was cordoned off for days as North Korean soldiers in anti-contamination suits collected wreckage and sprayed the area. Mossad analysts suspected they were trying to recover weapons-grade plutonium. Since the explosion, the Mossad tracked about a dozen trips by Syrian military officers and scientists to [[Pyongyang]], where they met with high-ranking North Korean officials.<ref name=thomas/> -''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', citing anonymous sources, reported that in December 2006, a top Syrian official arrived in [[London]] under a false name. The Mossad had detected a booking for the official in a London hotel, and dispatched at least ten undercover agents to London. The agents were split into three teams. One group was sent to [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow Airport]] to identify the official as he arrived, a second to book into his hotel, and a third to monitor his movements and visitors. Some of the operatives were from the Kidon Division, which specializes in assassinations, and the Negev Division, which specializes in breaking into homes, embassies, and hotel rooms to install bugging devices. On the first day of his visit, he visited the Syrian embassy and then went shopping. Kidon operatives closely followed him, while Negev operatives broke into his hotel room and found his laptop. A computer expert then installed software that allowed the Mossad to monitor his activities on the computer. When the computer material was examined at Mossad headquarters, officials found blueprints and hundreds of pictures of the Kibar facility in various stages of construction, and correspondence. One photograph showed North Korean nuclear official [[Chon Chibu]] meeting with Ibrahim Othman, Syria's atomic energy agency director. Though the Mossad had originally planned to kill the official in London, it was decided to spare his life following the discovery.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8514919/Mossad-carries-out-daring-London-raid-on-Syrian-official.html|work=The Daily Telegraph| first=Duncan|last=Gardham|title=Mossad carries out daring London raid on Syrian official|date=May 15, 2011|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8514919/Mossad-carries-out-daring-London-raid-on-Syrian-official.html|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> Israeli Prime Minister [[Ehud Olmert]] was notified. The following month, Olmert formed a three-member panel to report on Syria's nuclear program. Six months later, Brigadier-General Ya'akov Amidror, one of the panel's members, informed Olmert that Syria was working with North Korea and [[Iran]] on a nuclear facility. Iran had funneled $1 billion to the project, and planned on using the Kibar facility to replace Iranian facilities if Iran was unable to complete its uranium enrichment program.<ref name="strike in the desert"/> +''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', citing anonymous sources, reported that in December 2006, a top Syrian official arrived in [[London]] under a false name. The Mossad had detected a booking for the official in a London hotel, and dispatched at least ten undercover agents to London. The agents were split into three teams. One group was sent to [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow Airport]] to identify the official as he arrived, a second to book into his hotel, and a third to monitor his movements and visitors. Some of the operatives were from the Kidon Division, which specializes in assassinations, and the Negev Division, which specializes in breaking into homes, embassies, and hotel rooms to install bugging devices. On the first day of his visit, he visited the Syrian embassy and then went shopping. Kidon operatives closely followed him, while Negev operatives broke into his hotel room and found his laptop. A computer expert then installed software that allowed the Mossad to monitor his activities on the computer. When the computer material was examined at Mossad headquarters, officials found blueprints and hundreds of pictures of the Kibar facility in various stages of construction, and correspondence. One photograph showed North Korean nuclear official [[Chon Chibu]] meeting with Ibrahim Othman, Syria's atomic energy agency director. Though the Mossad had originally planned to kill the official in London, it was decided to spare his life following the discovery.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8514919/Mossad-carries-out-daring-London-raid-on-Syrian-official.html|work=The Daily Telegraph| first=Duncan|last=Gardham|title=Mossad carries out daring London raid on Syrian official|date=May 15, 2011|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8514919/Mossad-carries-out-daring-London-raid-on-Syrian-official.html|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> Israeli Prime Minister [[Ehud Olmert]] was notified. The following month, Olmert formed a three-member panel to report on Syria's nuclear program. Six months later, Brigadier-General Ya'akov Amidror, one of the panel's members, informed Olmert that Syria was working with North Korea and [[Iran]] on a nuclear facility. Iran had funneled $1 billion to the project, and planned on using the Kibar facility to replace Iranian facilities if Iran was unable to complete its uranium enrichment program.<ref name="strike in the desert"/> -In July 2007, an [[July 2007 Syrian arms depot explosion|explosion occurred]] in [[Musalmiya]], northern Syria. The official Sana news agency said 15 Syrian military personnel were killed and 50 people were injured. The agency reported only that "very explosive products" blew up after a fire broke out at the facility. The September 26 edition of ''[[Jane's Defence Weekly]]'' claimed that the explosion happened during tests to weaponise a [[Scud#Scud-C|Scud-C]] missile with [[mustard gas]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iJugIQvDKwkxupz9eULk1ml6OZ4Q|title=Syria blast 'linked to chemical weapons': report|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] (AFP)|date=September 19, 2007|accessdate=April 26, 2008|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iJugIQvDKwkxupz9eULk1ml6OZ4Q|archivedate=June 9, 2007}}</ref> +In July 2007, an [[July 2007 Syrian arms depot explosion|explosion occurred]] in [[Musalmiya]], northern Syria. The official Sana news agency said 15 Syrian military personnel were killed and 50 people were injured. The agency reported only that "very explosive products" blew up after a fire broke out at the facility. The September 26 edition of ''[[Jane's Defence Weekly]]'' claimed that the explosion happened during tests to weaponise a [[Scud#Scud-C|Scud-C]] missile with [[mustard gas]].<ref>{{cite news|url= http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iJugIQvDKwkxupz9eULk1ml6OZ4Q|title=Syria blast 'linked to chemical weapons': report|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] (AFP)|date=September 19, 2007|accessdate=April 26, 2008|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iJugIQvDKwkxupz9eULk1ml6OZ4Q|archivedate=June 9, 2007}}</ref> -A senior U.S. official told ''[[ABC News]]'' that, in early summer 2007, Israel had discovered a suspected Syrian nuclear facility, and that the [[Mossad]] then "managed to either co-opt one of the facility's workers or to insert a spy posing as an employee" at the suspected Syrian nuclear site, and through this was able to get pictures of the target from on the ground."<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Martha Raddatz]] |url=http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3752687&page=1|title=EXCLUSIVE: The Case for Israel's Strike on Syria|publisher=[[ABC News]]|date=October 19, 2007|accessdate=October 26, 2007}}</ref> Two months before the strike, Israel launched the [[Ofek-7]] spy satellite into space. The satellite was geo-positioned to watch activity at the complex.<ref name=thomas/> +A senior U.S. official told ''[[ABC News]]'' that, in early summer 2007, Israel had discovered a suspected Syrian nuclear facility, and that the [[Mossad]] then "managed to either co-opt one of the facility's workers or to insert a spy posing as an employee" at the suspected Syrian nuclear site, and through this was able to get pictures of the target from on the ground."<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Martha Raddatz]]|url=http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3752687&page=1|title=EXCLUSIVE: The Case for Israel's Strike on Syria|publisher=[[ABC News]]|date=October 19, 2007|accessdate=October 26, 2007=[[Agence France-Presse]] (AFP)|date=September 19, 2007|accessdate=April 26, 2008}}</ref> Two months before the strike, Israel launched the [[Ofek-7]] spy satellite into space. The satellite was geo-positioned to watch activity at the complex.<ref name=thomas/> -In mid August 2007, Israeli commandos from the [[Sayeret Matkal]] reconnaissance unit covertly raided the suspected Syrian nuclear facility and brought nuclear material back to Israel. Two helicopters ferried twelve commandos to the site in order to get photographic evidence and soil samples. The commandos were probably dressed in Syrian uniforms. Although the mission was successful, it had to be aborted earlier than planned after the Israelis were spotted by Syrian soldiers. Soil analysis revealed traces of nuclear activity.<ref name="strike in the desert">{{cite web|url= http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3799227,00.html|author=[[Noah Klieger]]|title=A strike in the desert|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|date= February 11, 2009|accessdate=January 29, 2012|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3799227,00.html|archivedate=November 5, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=''Snatched: Israeli commandos 'nuclear' find''|publisher=[[Times Online]]|date=September 23, 2007}}</ref><ref name=defector/> Anonymous sources reported that once material was tested and confirmed to have come from [[North Korea]], the [[United States]] approved an Israeli attack on the site.<ref name="Sunday Times Sep-23"/> Senior U.S. officials later claimed that they were not involved in or approved the attack, but were informed in advance.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hess|first=Pamela|url= http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-04-23-554340650_x.htm|title=White House says Syria 'must come clean' about nuclear work|work=Associated Press Writers |date=April 23, 2008|publisher=[[USA Today]]|accessdate=April 26, 2008|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-04-23-554340650_x.htm|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> In his memoir ''[[Decision Points]]'', President [[George W. Bush]] wrote that Prime Minister Olmert requested that the U.S. bomb the Syrian site, but Bush refused, saying the intelligence was not definitive on whether the plant was part of a nuclear weapons program. Bush claimed that Olmert did not ask for a green light for an attack and that he did not give one, but that Olmert acted alone and did what he thought was necessary to protect Israel.<ref name="bush">George W. Bush, ''Decision Points'', London: Random House, 2010, p. 421-422</ref> Another report indicated that Israel planned to attack the site as early as July 14, but some U.S. officials, including [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Condoleezza Rice]], preferred a public condemnation of Syria, thereby delaying the military strike until Israel feared the information would leak to the press.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Turkish-FM-to-discuss-Syria-in-Jlem|title= Report: Turkish FM to discuss Syria in J'lem|newspaper=''The Jerusalem Post''|date=October 6, 2007|accessdate=October 6, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121018140016/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Turkish-FM-to-discuss-Syria-in-Jlem|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> ''The Sunday Times'' also reported that the mission was "personally directed" by [[Defense Minister of Israel|Israeli Defense Minister]] [[Ehud Barak]].<ref name="Sunday Times Sep-23"/> +In mid August 2007, Israeli commandos from the [[Sayeret Matkal]] reconnaissance unit covertly raided the suspected Syrian nuclear facility and brought nuclear material back to Israel. Two helicopters ferried twelve commandos to the site in order to get photographic evidence and soil samples. The commandos were probably dressed in Syrian uniforms. Although the mission was successful, it had to be aborted earlier than planned after the Israelis were spotted by Syrian soldiers. Soil analysis revealed traces of nuclear activity.<ref name="strike in the desert">{{cite web|url= http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3799227,00.html|author=[[Noah Klieger]]|title=A strike in the desert|publisher=[[Ynetnews]]|date= February 11, 2009|accessdate=January 29, 2012|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3799227,00.html|archivedate=November 5, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=''Snatched: Israeli commandos 'nuclear' find''|publisher=[[Times Online]]|date=September 23, 2007}}</ref><ref name=defector/> Anonymous sources reported that once material was tested and confirmed to have come from [[North Korea]], the [[United States]] approved an Israeli attack on the site.<ref name="Sunday Times Sep-23"/> Senior U.S. officials later claimed that they were not involved in or approved the attack, but were informed in advance.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hess|first=Pamela|url= http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-04-23-554340650_x.htm|title=White House says Syria 'must come clean' about nuclear work|work=Associated Press Writers |date=April 23, 2008|publisher=[[USA Today]]|accessdate=April 26, 2008|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-04-23-554340650_x.htm|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> In his memoir ''[[Decision Points]]'', President [[George W. Bush]] wrote that Prime Minister Olmert requested that the U.S. bomb the Syrian site, but Bush refused, saying the intelligence was not definitive on whether the plant was part of a nuclear weapons program. Bush claimed that Olmert did not ask for a green light for an attack and that he did not give one, but that Olmert acted alone and did what he thought was necessary to protect Israel.<ref name="bush">George W. Bush, ''Decision Points'', London: Random House, 2010, p. 421-422</ref> Another report indicated that Israel planned to attack the site as early as July 14, but some U.S. officials, including [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Condoleezza Rice]], preferred a public condemnation of Syria, thereby delaying the military strike until Israel feared the information would leak to the press.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Turkish-FM-to-discuss-Syria-in-Jlem|title= Report: Turkish FM to discuss Syria in J'lem|newspaper=''The Jerusalem Post''|date=October 6, 2007|accessdate=October 6, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121018140016/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Turkish-FM-to-discuss-Syria-in-Jlem|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> ''The Sunday Times'' also reported that the mission was "personally directed" by [[Defense Minister of Israel|Israeli Defense Minister]] [[Ehud Barak]].<ref name="Sunday Times Sep-23"/> <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[File:Al-Hamed-1-July-2006.jpg||thumb||''Al Hamed'', anchored in [[Istanbul]] <small>''(from [http://www.ShipFoto.co.uk/ www.ShipFoto.co.uk])''</small>]] --> -Three days before the attack, a North Korean cargo ship carrying materials labeled as cement docked in the Syrian port of [[Tartus]].<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Glenn Kessler (journalist)|Glenn Kessler]]|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091402207.html|title=Syria-N. Korea Reports Won't Stop Talks|newspaper=''The Washington Post''|date=September 15, 2007|accessdate=September 23, 2007}}</ref> Gordon Thomas wrote that as the ship was being unloaded, a Mossad operative photographed the process with a hidden camera.<ref name="thomas">Thomas, Gordon: ''Gideon's Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad''</ref> An Israeli on-line data analyst, Ronen Solomon, found an internet trace for the 1,700-tonne cargo ship, the ''Al Hamed'', which allegedly was docked at Tartus on September 3.<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Tim Butcher]]|title=N Korean ship 'linked to Israel's strike on Syria'|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/17/wsyria117.xml |publisher=''The Daily Telegraph''|date=September 17, 2007|accessdate=September 17, 2007|location=London|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/17/wsyria117.xml|archivedate=May 14, 2013}}</ref> By April 25, 2008 the ship was under the flag of the [[Comoros]].<ref>[http://www.e-ships.net/ships.htm e-ships.net database], accessed April 24 2008</ref> +Three days before the attack, a North Korean cargo ship carrying materials labeled as cement docked in the Syrian port of [[Tartus]].<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Glenn Kessler (journalist)|Glenn Kessler]]|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091402207.html|title=Syria-N. Korea Reports Won't Stop Talks|newspaper=''The Washington Post''|date=September 15, 2007|accessdate=September 23, 2007}}</ref> Gordon Thomas wrote that as the ship was being unloaded, a Mossad operative photographed the process with a hidden camera.<ref name=thomas>Thomas, Gordon: ''Gideon's Spies: The Secret History of the Mossad''</ref> An Israeli on-line data analyst, Ronen Solomon, found an internet trace for the 1,700-tonne cargo ship, the ''Al Hamed'', which allegedly was docked at Tartus on September 3.<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Tim Butcher]]|title=N Korean ship 'linked to Israel's strike on Syria'|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/17/wsyria117.xml |publisher=''The Daily Telegraph''|date=September 17, 2007|accessdate=September 17, 2007|location=London|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/17/wsyria117.xml|archivedate=May 14, 2013}}</ref> By April 25, 2008 the ship was under the flag of the [[Comoros]].<ref>[http://www.e-ships.net/ships.htm e-ships.net database], accessed April 24 2008</ref> The [[Israeli Air Force]] pilots who took part in the operation were personally handpicked by General [[Eliezer Shkedy]], commander of the Israeli Air Force. Shkedy chose pilots whose flying skills matched his own. The pilots began training weeks before the raid. The pilots trained to hit a small target at an angled dive of thirty degrees. During the practice missions, the pilots used dummy bombs which exploded [[white phosphorus]] smoke on the target to determine the accuracy of the drops. The drills were carried out over the [[Negev]] at night. The pilots were not told of their target until they were briefed by General Shkedy shortly before the operation began. During the briefing, Shkedy assured the pilots that Syrian air defenses would be jammed, and warned them that no bombs were to fall on civilians.<ref name=thomas/> On September 4, key players in the operation met in General Shkedy's headquarters. The photographs taken by a Mossad agent as the ship was being unloaded, as well as the agent's report, were the focus of the meeting.<ref name=thomas/> -Several newspapers reported that Iranian general [[Ali Reza Asgari]], who had disappeared in February in a possible defection to the West, supplied Western intelligence with information about the site.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=76675|title=Report: Defecting Iranian official gave info before alleged Syrian foray|publisher=The Jerusalem Post|date=September 28, 2007|accessdate=September 28, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=76675|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Ruhle>{{cite news|first=Hans|last=Rühle|title=Wie Iran Syriens Nuklearbewaffnung vorangetrieben hat|url=http://jer-zentrum.org/ViewNews.aspx?ArticleId=1196|publisher=[[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]]|work=[[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]]|date=March 19, 2009|accessdate=March 19, 2009|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://jer-zentrum.org/ViewNews.aspx?ArticleId=1196|archivedate=August 13, 2007}}</ref> +Several newspapers reported that Iranian general [[Ali Reza Asgari]], who had disappeared in February in a possible defection to the West, supplied Western intelligence with information about the site.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=76675|title=Report: Defecting Iranian official gave info before alleged Syrian foray|publisher=The Jerusalem Post|date=September 28, 2007|accessdate=September 28, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=76675|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Ruhle>{{cite news|first=Hans|last=Rühle|title=Wie Iran Syriens Nuklearbewaffnung vorangetrieben hat|url=http://jer-zentrum.org/ViewNews.aspx?ArticleId=1196|publisher=[[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]]|work=[[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]]|date=March 19, 2009|accessdate=March 19, 2009|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://jer-zentrum.org/ViewNews.aspx?ArticleId=1196|archivedate=August 13, 2007}}</ref> ==Target== [[File:Destroyed Reactor.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Alleged Syrian nuclear reactor, after it was destroyed by Israeli air strike]] -[[CNN]] first reported that the airstrike targeted weapons "destined for [[Hezbollah]] militants" and that the strike "left a big hole in the desert".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/11/israel.syria/|title=Syria complains to U.N. about Israeli airstrike|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=September 11, 2007 |accessdate=September 16, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/11/israel.syria/|archivedate=January 25, 2014}}</ref> One week later, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reported that U.S. and Israeli intelligence gathered information on a nuclear facility constructed in Syria with North Korean aid, and that the target was a "facility capable of making unconventional weapons".<ref>{{cite news|last=Kessler +[[CNN]] first reported that the airstrike targeted weapons "destined for [[Hezbollah]] militants" and that the strike "left a big hole in the desert".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/11/israel.syria/|title=Syria complains to U.N. about Israeli airstrike|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=September 11, 2007 |accessdate=September 16, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/11/israel.syria/|archivedate=January 25, 2014}}</ref> One week later, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reported that U.S. and Israeli intelligence gathered information on a nuclear facility constructed in Syria with North Korean aid, and that the target was a "facility capable of making unconventional weapons".<ref>{{cite news|last=Kessler |first=Glenn|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091202430.html|title=N. Korea, Syria May Be at Work on Nuclear Facility|newspaper=''The Washington Post''|date=September 13, 2007|accessdate=September 16, 2007}}</ref> According to ''The Sunday Times'', there were claims of a cache of [[nuclear material]]s from [[North Korea]].<ref name="Sunday Times Sep-16"/> -[[Vice President of Syria|Syrian Vice-President]] [[Faruq Al Shara]] announced on September 30 that the Israeli target was the [[Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands]], but the center itself immediately denied this.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metimes.com/International/2007/09/30/arab_league_center_denies_it_was_israeli_raid_target/5076/|title=Arab League center denies it was Israeli raid target|newspaper=''[[Middle East Times]]''|date=September 30, 2007|accessdate=September 30, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.metimes.com/International/2007/09/30/arab_league_center_denies_it_was_israeli_raid_target/5076/|archivedate=August 5, 2012}}</ref> The following day Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]] described the bombing target as an "incomplete and empty military complex that was still under construction". He did not provide any further details about the nature of the structure or its purpose.<ref>{{cite news|url= +[[Vice President of Syria|Syrian Vice-President]] [[Faruq Al Shara]] announced on September 30 that the Israeli target was the [[Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands]], but the center itself immediately denied this.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.metimes.com/International/2007/09/30/arab_league_center_denies_it_was_israeli_raid_target/5076/|title=Arab League center denies it was Israeli raid target|newspaper=''[[Middle East Times]]''|date=September 30, 2007|accessdate=September 30, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.metimes.com/International/2007/09/30/arab_league_center_denies_it_was_israeli_raid_target/5076/|archivedate=August 5, 2012}}</ref> The following day Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]] described the bombing target as an "incomplete and empty military complex that was still under construction". He did not provide any further details about the nature of the structure or its purpose.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7021986.stm|title=Assad sets conference conditions|publisher=BBC|date=October 1, 2007|accessdate=October 1, 2007|archiveurl= -http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7021986.stm/|archivedate=October 31, 2007}}</ref> +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7021986.stm/|archivedate=October 31, 2007}}</ref> On 14 October ''[[The New York Times]]'' cited U.S. and Israeli military intelligence sources saying that the target had been a [[nuclear reactor]] under construction by North Korean technicians, with a number of the technicians having been killed in the strike.<ref>{{cite news|author=[[David E. Sanger]]|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/washington/14weapons.html?hp|title=Israel Struck Syrian Nuclear Project, Analysts Say|newspaper=''The New York Times''|date= -October 14, 2007|accessdate=October 15, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/washington/14weapons.html?hp|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> On December 2 ''The Sunday Times'' quoted [[Uzi Even]], a professor at [[Tel Aviv University]] and a founder of the [[Negev Nuclear Research Center]], saying that he believes that the Syrian site was built to process plutonium and assemble a nuclear bomb, using weapons-grade plutonium originally from North Korea. He also said that Syria's quick burial of the target site with tons of soil was a reaction to fears of radiation.<ref name="Sunday Times Dec-02">{{cite news|last=Mahnaimi|first=Uzi|url= +October 14, 2007|accessdate=October 15, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/washington/14weapons.html?hp|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> On December 2 ''The Sunday Times'' quoted [[Uzi Even]], a professor at [[Tel Aviv University]] and a founder of the [[Negev Nuclear Research Center]], saying that he believes that the Syrian site was built to process plutonium and assemble a nuclear bomb, using weapons-grade plutonium originally from North Korea. He also said that Syria's quick burial of the target site with tons of soil was a reaction to fears of radiation.<ref name="Sunday Times Dec-02">{{cite news|last=Mahnaimi|first=Uzi|url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2983719.ece|title=Israelis hit Syrian ‘nuclear bomb plant’|newspaper=''The Sunday Times''|date=December 2, 2007|accessdate=December 2, 2007}}</ref> -On March 19, 2009, [[Hans Rühle]], former chief of the planning staff of the [[German Defense Ministry]], wrote in the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] daily ''[[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]]'' that Iran was financing a Syrian nuclear reactor. Rühle did not identify the sources of his information. He wrote that U.S. intelligence had detected North Korean ship deliveries of construction supplies to Syria that started in 2002, and that the construction was spotted by American satellites in 2003, who detected nothing unusual, partly because the Syrians had banned radio and telephones from the site and handled communications solely by messengers. He said that "The analysis was conclusive that it was a North Korean-type reactor, a gas graphite model" and that "Israel estimates that Iran had paid North Korea between $1 billion and $2 billion for the project". He also wrote that just before the Israeli operation, a North Korean ship was intercepted en route to Syria with nuclear fuel rods.<ref name=defector>{{Cite news|work=Associated Press|title='Iran defector tipped off U.S. on Syrian nuclear ambitions'|publisher=[[Haaretz]]|accessdate=March 19, 2009|date= March 19, 2009|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1072478.html|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1072478.html|archivedate=October 21, 2012}}</ref> +On March 19, 2009, [[Hans Rühle]], former chief of the planning staff of the [[German Defense Ministry]], wrote in the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] daily ''[[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]]'' that Iran was financing a Syrian nuclear reactor. Rühle did not identify the sources of his information. He wrote that U.S. intelligence had detected North Korean ship deliveries of construction supplies to Syria that started in 2002, and that the construction was spotted by American satellites in 2003, who detected nothing unusual, partly because the Syrians had banned radio and telephones from the site and handled communications solely by messengers. He said that "The analysis was conclusive that it was a North Korean-type reactor, a gas graphite model" and that "Israel estimates that Iran had paid North Korea between $1 billion and $2 billion for the project". He also wrote that just before the Israeli operation, a North Korean ship was intercepted en route to Syria with nuclear fuel rods.<ref name=defector>{{Cite news|work=Associated Press|title='Iran defector tipped off U.S. on Syrian nuclear ambitions'|publisher=[[Haaretz]]|accessdate=March 19, 2009|date=March 19, 2009|url= http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1072478.html|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1072478.html|archivedate=October 21, 2012}}</ref> ==The Operation== -The day before the attack, a team of [[Shaldag Unit]] commandos was inserted into the area.{{Citation needed|date=June 2012}} The commandos took up positions close to the nuclear site.{{cn|date=June 2012}} +The day before the attack, a team of [[Shaldag Unit]] commandos was inserted into the area.{{cn|date=June 2012}} The commandos took up positions close to the nuclear site.{{cn|date=June 2012}} -Ten Israeli [[McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle|F-15I ''Ra'am'']] fighter jets from the [[Israeli Air Force]] [[69 Squadron (Israel)|69th Squadron]] armed with laser-guided bombs, escorted by [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16I ''Sufa'']] fighter jets and a few [[ELINT]] aircraft, took off from [[Ramat David Airbase]]. Three of the F-15s were ordered back to base, while the remaining seven continued towards Syria. The Israelis destroyed a Syrian radar site in Tall al-Abuad with conventional precision bombs, electronic attack, and jamming.<ref name="Aviatian Week">{{cite web|last=Fulghum|first=David A.|url= http://www.worldsecuritynetwork.com/Israel-Palestine/David-A.-Fulghum-and-Robert-Wall-/U.S.-Electronic-Surveillance-Monitored-Israeli-Attack-On-Syria|title=U.S. Electronic Surveillance Monitored Israeli Attack On Syria|publisher=''[[World Security Network]]''|date=November 27, 2007|accessdate=February 7, 2014|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.worldsecuritynetwork.com/Israel-Palestine/David-A.-Fulghum-and-Robert-Wall-/U.S.-Electronic-Surveillance-Monitored-Israeli-Attack-On-Syria|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> +Ten Israeli [[McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle|F-15I ''Ra'am'']] fighter jets from the [[Israeli Air Force]] [[69 Squadron (Israel)|69th Squadron]] armed with laser-guided bombs, escorted by [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16I ''Sufa'']] fighter jets and a few [[ELINT]] aircraft, took off from [[Ramat David Airbase]]. Three of the F-15s were ordered back to base, while the remaining seven continued towards Syria. The Israelis destroyed a Syrian radar site in Tall al-Abuad with conventional precision bombs, electronic attack, and jamming.<ref name="Aviatian Week">{{cite web|last=Fulghum|first=David A.|url= http://www.worldsecuritynetwork.com/Israel-Palestine/David-A.-Fulghum-and-Robert-Wall-/U.S.-Electronic-Surveillance-Monitored-Israeli-Attack-On-Syria|title=U.S. Electronic Surveillance Monitored Israeli Attack On Syria|publisher=''[[World Security Network]]''|date=November 27, 2007|accessdate=February 7, 2014|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.worldsecuritynetwork.com/Israel-Palestine/David-A.-Fulghum-and-Robert-Wall-/U.S.-Electronic-Surveillance-Monitored-Israeli-Attack-On-Syria|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> -Israeli intelligence may have used technology similar to the [[Suter (computer program)|Suter airborne network attack system]] to neutralize Syrian radars. This would make it possible to feed enemy radar emitters with false targets, and even directly manipulate enemy sensors.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fulghum|first=David A|url= http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A2710d024-5eda-416c-b117-ae6d649146cd|title=Why Syria's Air Defenses Failed to Detect Israelis|publisher=''Aviation Week & Space Technology''|date=October 3, 2007|accessdate=October 3, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A2710d024-5eda-416c-b117-ae6d649146cd|archivedate= November 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fulghum|first=David A|url=http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3702807|title=Israel used electronic attack in air strike against Syrian mystery target|publisher=''[[ABC News]]''|date=October 8, 2007|accessdate=October 8, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3702807|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> In May 2008, a report in [[IEEE Spectrum]] cited European sources claiming that the Syrian air defense network had been deactivated by a secret built-in kill switch activated by the Israelis.<ref>Stuxnet Worm is Remarkable for its Lack of Subtlety, by John Markoff, New York Times 27 September 2010</ref><ref>[http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/design/the-hunt-for-the-kill-switch/0 "The Hunt for the Kill Switch"],''[[IEEE Spectrum]]'', May 2008 by Sally Adee</ref> +Israeli intelligence may have used technology similar to the [[Suter (computer program)|Suter airborne network attack system]] to neutralize Syrian radars. This would make it possible to feed enemy radar emitters with false targets, and even directly manipulate enemy sensors.<ref>{{cite news|last=Fulghum|first=David A|url= http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A2710d024-5eda-416c-b117-ae6d649146cd|title=Why Syria's Air Defenses Failed to Detect Israelis|publisher=''Aviation Week & Space Technology''|date=October 3, 2007|accessdate=October 3, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A2710d024-5eda-416c-b117-ae6d649146cd|archivedate= November 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fulghum|first=David A|url= http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3702807|title=Israel used electronic attack in air strike against Syrian mystery target|publisher=''[[ABC News]]''|date=October 8, 2007|accessdate=October 8, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3702807|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> In May 2008, a report in [[IEEE Spectrum]] cited European sources claiming that the Syrian air defense network had been deactivated by a secret built-in kill switch activated by the Israelis.<ref>Stuxnet Worm is Remarkable for its Lack of Subtlety, by John Markoff, New York Times 27 September 2010</ref><ref>[http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/design/the-hunt-for-the-kill-switch/0 "The Hunt for the Kill Switch"],''[[IEEE Spectrum]]'', May 2008 by Sally Adee</ref> When the aircraft approached the site, the Shaldag commandos directed their targeting laser at the facility, and the F-15Is released their bombs. The facility was totally destroyed.<ref>{{YouTube|4uy95ecx2bY|Israel thwarted Syria's plan to attack}} infolivetivenglish, 17 September 2007</ref> [[File:F-15I Ra'am.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Israeli [[69 Squadron (Israel)|69 Squadron]] F-15I]] @@ -75,9 +96,9 @@ http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/904009.html|title= ANALYSIS: Mummed media base IAF strike reports on world press|newspaper=''Haaretz'' |date=September 16, 2007|accessdate=September 16, 2009|archiveurl= -http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/904009.html|archivedate=October 18, 2012}}</ref> On September 16 the head of [[Military Intelligence Directorate (Israel)|Israeli military intelligence]], [[Amos Yadlin]], told a parliamentary committee that Israel regained its "deterrent capability".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPSxU5Nlch6Nzo-6RPwuhDbjZb1Q +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/904009.html|archivedate=October 18, 2012}}</ref> On September 16 the head of [[Military Intelligence Directorate (Israel)|Israeli military intelligence]], [[Amos Yadlin]], told a parliamentary committee that Israel regained its "deterrent capability".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPSxU5Nlch6Nzo-6RPwuhDbjZb1Q |title=Israel says deterrent ability recovered after Syria strike|publisher= Associated French Press|date=September 16, 2007|accessdate=September 16, 2007|archiveurl= -http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPSxU5Nlch6Nzo-6RPwuhDbjZb1Q|archivedate=October 24, 2013}}</ref> +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPSxU5Nlch6Nzo-6RPwuhDbjZb1Q|archivedate=October 24, 2013}}</ref> The first public acknowledgment by an Israeli official came on September 19 when opposition leader [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] said that he had backed the operation and congratulated Prime Minister Olmert.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5icAEGzS6dKQGlkVrae3wytVA2S8Q|title=Netanyahu says Israel carried out Syria air raid, he backed it|publisher=Associated French Press|date=September 19, 2007|accessdate=September 19, 2007|archiveurl= @@ -86,67 +107,93 @@ On September 17, Prime Minister Olmert announced that he was ready to make peace with Syria "without preset conditions and without ultimatums".<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Olmert-says-he-is-ready-to-make-peace-with-Syria|title=Olmert says he is ready to make peace with Syria|newspaper=''The Jerusalem Post''|date=September 17, 2007|accessdate=September 17, 2007|archiveurl= -http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Olmert-says-he-is-ready-to-make-peace-with-Syria|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> According to a poll done by the Dahaf Research Institute, Olmert's approval rating rose from 25% to 35% after the airstrike.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/18/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-Olmert-Poll.php|title=Mysterious airstrike in northern Syria boosts Olmert's popularity: Poll|work= Associated Press|publisher=''International Herald Tribune''|date=September 18, 2007|accessdate=September 19, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/18/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-Olmert-Poll.php|archivedate=October 4, 2012}}</ref> +http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Olmert-says-he-is-ready-to-make-peace-with-Syria|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> According to a poll done by the Dahaf Research Institute, Olmert's approval rating rose from 25% to 35% after the airstrike.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/18/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-Olmert-Poll.php|title=Mysterious airstrike in northern Syria boosts Olmert's popularity: Poll|work= Associated Press|publisher=''International Herald Tribune''|date=September 18, 2007|accessdate=September 19, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/18/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-Olmert-Poll.php|archivedate=October 4, 2012}}</ref> -On October 2, 2007 the IDF confirmed the attack took place, following a request by ''[[Haaretz]]'' to lift censorship; however, the IDF continued to censor details of the actual strike force and its target.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oren|first=Amir|url=http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/909147.html|title=IDF lifts censorship on air strike against Syria target|newspaper=''Haaretz''|date= October 2, 2007|accessdate=October 2, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/909147.html|archivedate=September 1, 2012}}</ref> +On October 2, 2007 the IDF confirmed the attack took place, following a request by ''[[Haaretz]]'' to lift censorship; however, the IDF continued to censor details of the actual strike force and its target.<ref>{{cite news|last=Oren|first=Amir|url=http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/909147.html|title=IDF lifts censorship on air strike against Syria target|newspaper=''Haaretz''|date= October 2, 2007|accessdate=October 2, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/909147.html|archivedate=September 1, 2012}}</ref> -Amir Oren, an Israeli journalist publishing in ''Haaretz'' opined "we can safely say that behind the successful blackout campaign lies an enormous failure" namely the failure to predict how Syria would respond to the strike: "whoever expected him to respond to the operation in a military operation was wrong".<ref>{{cite news|last= Oren|first=Amir|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/909310.html|title=The consistency of error|newspaper=''Haaretz''|date=March 10, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/909310.html|archivedate=October 18, 2012}}</ref> +Amir Oren, an Israeli journalist publishing in ''Haaretz'' opined "we can safely say that behind the successful blackout campaign lies an enormous failure" namely the failure to predict how Syria would respond to the strike: "whoever expected him to respond to the operation in a military operation was wrong".<ref>{{cite news|last= Oren|first=Amir|url=http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/909310.html|title=The consistency of error|newspaper=''Haaretz''|date=March 10, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/909310.html|archivedate=October 18, 2012}}</ref> On October 28, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the [[Cabinet of Israel|Israeli cabinet]] that he had apologized to [[Turkey|Turkish]] Prime Minister [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] if Israel violated Turkish airspace. In a statement released to the press after the meeting he said: "In my conversation with the Turkish prime minister, I told him that if Israeli planes indeed penetrated Turkish airspace, then there was no intention thereby, either in advance or in any case, to &mdash; in any way &mdash; violate or undermine Turkish sovereignty, which we respect."<ref name=usaf/> ==Syrian reaction== -Abu Mohammed, a former air force major in the Syrian air force, recounted in 2013 that air defenses in the Deir ez-Zor region were told to stand down as soon as the Israeli planes were detected heading to the reactor.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/04/syrian-rebel-raids-military-strongholds?CMP=twt_gu Syrian rebel raids expose secrets of once-feared military], The Guardian, 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2013-02-07.</ref> +Abu Mohammed, a former air force major in the Syrian air force, recounted in 2013 that air defenses in the Deir ez-Zor region were told to stand down as soon as the Israeli planes were detected heading to the reactor.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/04/syrian-rebel-raids-military-strongholds?CMP=twt_gu|title=Syrian rebel raids expose secrets of once-feared military|newspaper=The Guardian|date=February 4, 2013|accessdate=February 7, 2013 +|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/04/syrian-rebel-raids-military-strongholds?CMP=twt_gu|archivedate=February 8, 2013}}</ref> [[File:Operation Orchard-Syria.jpg|left|thumb|Photographs of the Syrian site before and after the strike.]] -According to a [[WikiLeaks]] cable, the Syrian government placed long-range missiles armed with chemical warheads on high alert after the attack but did not retaliate, fearing an Israeli nuclear counterstrike.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bergman|first=Ronen |title=WikiLeaks: Syria aimed chemical weapons at Israel|work=Ynet News|accessdate= April 14, 2014|date=April 14, 2014|url= http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4056748,00.html|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4056748,00.html|archivedate=April 16, 2011}}</ref> +According to a [[WikiLeaks]] cable, the Syrian government placed long-range missiles armed with chemical warheads on high alert after the attack but did not retaliate, fearing an Israeli nuclear counterstrike.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bergman|first=Ronen |title=WikiLeaks: Syria aimed chemical weapons at Israel|work=Ynet News|accessdate= April 14, 2014|date=April 14, 2014|url= http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4056748,00.html|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4056748,00.html|archivedate=April 16, 2011}}</ref> -Syria at first claimed that its [[anti-aircraft]] weapons had fired at Israeli planes, which bombed empty areas in the desert,<ref name="Fraser">"[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gF0PrCkjgL-VwGzQe9ftc1ojMLaA Turkey Asks Israel About Fuel Tanks]{{Dead link|date=July 2008}}", Associated Press, 2007-09-09. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.</ref> or later, a military construction site.<ref>"[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7024287.stm Israel admits air strike on Syria]", BBC, 2007-10-02. Retrieved 2008-04-26.</ref> During the two days following the attack, [[Turkey|Turkish]] media reported finding Israeli fuel tanks in [[Hatay Province|Hatay]] and [[Gaziantep Province]], and the [[Turkish Foreign Minister]] lodged a formal protest with the Israeli envoy.<ref name="Fraser"/><ref>"[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/09/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-Turkey-Syria.php Turkey complains to Israel over fuel tanks found near border with Syria: reports]", Associated Press, ''International Herald Tribune'', 2007-09-09. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.</ref> +Syria at first claimed that its [[anti-aircraft]] weapons had fired at Israeli planes, which bombed empty areas in the desert,<ref name="Fraser">"[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gF0PrCkjgL-VwGzQe9ftc1ojMLaA Turkey Asks Israel About Fuel Tanks]{{Dead link|date=July 2008}}", Associated Press, 2007-09-09. Retrieved on 2007-09-09.</ref> or later, a military construction site.<ref>"{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7024287.stm|title= Israel admits air strike on Syria|publisher=BBC|date=October 2, 2007|accessdate= April 26, 2008|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7024287.stm|archivedate=October 11, 2007}}</ref> During the two days following the attack, [[Turkey|Turkish]] media reported finding Israeli fuel tanks in [[Hatay Province|Hatay]] and [[Gaziantep Province]], and the [[Turkish Foreign Minister]] lodged a formal protest with the Israeli envoy.<ref name="Fraser"/><ref>{{cite enws|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/09/africa/ME-GEN-Israel-Turkey-Syria.php|title=Turkey complains to Israel over fuel tanks found near border with Syria: reports|work=Associated Press|publisher=''International Herald Tribune''|date=September 9|accessdate=September 9, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7024287.stm|archivedate=October 11, 2007}}</ref> -In a letter to the [[Secretary-General of the United Nations]], [[Ban Ki-moon]], Syria called the incursion a "breach of airspace of the Syrian Arab Republic" and said "it is not the first time Israel has violated" Syrian airspace. Syria also accused the international community of ignoring Israeli actions. A U.N. spokesperson said Syria had not requested a meeting of the [[UN Security Council]] and [[France]], at the time the [[president of the Security Council]], said it had received no letter from Syria.<ref name=cnn>{{cite news|title=Syria complains to U.N. about Israeli airstrike|work=CNN|accessdate=February 19, 2009|url= http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/11/israel.syria/index.html|date=September 11, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/11/israel.syria/index.html|archivedate=October 10, 2013}}</ref> +In a letter to the [[Secretary-General of the United Nations]], [[Ban Ki-moon]], Syria called the incursion a "breach of airspace of the Syrian Arab Republic" and said "it is not the first time Israel has violated" Syrian airspace. Syria also accused the international community of ignoring Israeli actions. A U.N. spokesperson said Syria had not requested a meeting of the [[UN Security Council]] and [[France]], at the time the [[president of the Security Council]], said it had received no letter from Syria.<ref name=cnn>{{cite news|title=Syria complains to U.N. about Israeli airstrike|work=CNN|accessdate=February 19, 2009|url= http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/11/israel.syria/index.html|date=September 11, 2007|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/09/11/israel.syria/index.html|archivedate=October 10, 2013}}</ref> -On April 27, 2008 Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]], making his first public comments about the raid, dismissed the allegations that it was a nuclear site which was attacked as false: "Is it logical? A nuclear site did not have protection with surface to air defenses? A nuclear site within the footprint of satellites in the middle of Syria in an open area in the desert?" Independent experts, however, suggested that Syria did not fortify its suspected reactor in order to avoid drawing attention and because the building was not yet operational. Besides a nuclear program, Syria is believed to have extensive arsenals, as well as biological and chemical warheads for its long-range missiles.<ref>[http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/108275.html Breaking News - JTA, Jewish & Israel News]</ref><ref>"[http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL27399094 Assad says facility Israel bombed not nuclear-paper]." [[Reuters]].</ref> On February 25, 2009, IAEA officials reported that Ibrahim Othman, Syria's nuclear chief, told a closed IAEA technical meeting that Syria built a missile facility on the site.<ref name=broad>{{cite news|issn=0362-4331|last=Broad|first=William J.|title=Syria Discloses Missile Facility, Europeans Say|work=The New York Times|accessdate=February 25, 2009|date=February 25, 2009|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25syria.html?ref=world|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25syria.html?ref=world|archivedate=February 25, 2009}}</ref> +On April 27, 2008 Syrian President [[Bashar al-Assad]], making his first public comments about the raid, dismissed the allegations that it was a nuclear site which was attacked as false: "Is it logical? A nuclear site did not have protection with surface to air defenses? A nuclear site within the footprint of satellites in the middle of Syria in an open area in the desert?" Independent experts, however, suggested that Syria did not fortify its suspected reactor in order to avoid drawing attention and because the building was not yet operational. Besides a nuclear program, Syria is believed to have extensive arsenals, as well as biological and chemical warheads for its long-range missiles.<ref>[http://www.jta.org/cgi-bin/iowa/breaking/108275.html Breaking News - JTA, Jewish & Israel News]</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL27399094|title= Assad says facility Israel bombed not nuclear-paper|publisher=[[Reuters]]|date=April 27, 2008|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL27399094|archivedate=November 13, 2012}}</ref> On February 25, 2009, IAEA officials reported that Ibrahim Othman, Syria's nuclear chief, told a closed IAEA technical meeting that Syria built a missile facility on the site.<ref name=broad>{{cite news|issn=0362-4331|last=Broad|first=William J.|title=Syria Discloses Missile Facility, Europeans Say|work=The New York Times|accessdate=February 25, 2009|date=February 25, 2009|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25syria.html?ref=world|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/world/middleeast/25syria.html?ref=world|archivedate=February 25, 2009}}</ref> ==International reactions== -No Arab government besides Syria has formally commented on the September 6 incident. The Egyptian weekly ''[[Al-Ahram]]'' commented on the "synchronized silence of the Arab world." Neither the Israeli nor Syrian government has offered a detailed description of what occurred. Outside experts and media commentators have filled the data vacuum by offering their own diverse interpretations about what precisely happened that night. Western commentators took the position that the lack of official non-Syrian Arab condemnations of Israel's action, threats of retaliation against Israel, or even professions of support for the Syrian government or people must imply that their governments tacitly supported the Israeli action. Even Iranian officials have not formally commented on the Israeli attack or Syria's reactions.<ref>Weitz, Richard. "[http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/071101.htm Israeli Airstrike in Syria: International Reactions]", [[James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies]] (CNS) at the [[Monterey Institute of International Studies]] (MIIS), 2007-11-01.</ref> +No Arab government besides Syria has formally commented on the September 6 incident. The Egyptian weekly ''[[Al-Ahram]]'' commented on the "synchronized silence of the Arab world." Neither the Israeli nor Syrian government has offered a detailed description of what occurred. Outside experts and media commentators have filled the data vacuum by offering their own diverse interpretations about what precisely happened that night. Western commentators took the position that the lack of official non-Syrian Arab condemnations of Israel's action, threats of retaliation against Israel, or even professions of support for the Syrian government or people must imply that their governments tacitly supported the Israeli action. Even Iranian officials have not formally commented on the Israeli attack or Syria's reactions.<ref>Weitz, Richard. "[http://cns.miis.edu/stories/071101.htm Israeli Airstrike in Syria: International Reactions]", [[James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies]] (CNS) at the [[Monterey Institute of International Studies]] (MIIS), 2007-11-01.</ref> -U.S. Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]] was asked if North Korea was helping Syria in the nuclear realm, but replied only that "we are watching the North Koreans very carefully. We watch the Syrians very carefully."<ref>{{cite news|url= http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPy7lwFLss3bf17Bancm0qSSNUTA|ttile=Speculation heats up over what Israel hit in Syria|publisher=Associated French Press|date=September 16, 2007|accessdate=September 16, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPy7lwFLss3bf17Bancm0qSSNUTA|archivedate=October 24, 2013}}</ref> +U.S. Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]] was asked if North Korea was helping Syria in the nuclear realm, but replied only that "we are watching the North Koreans very carefully. We watch the Syrians very carefully."<ref>{{cite news|url= http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPy7lwFLss3bf17Bancm0qSSNUTA|ttile=Speculation heats up over what Israel hit in Syria|publisher=Associated French Press|date=September 16, 2007|accessdate=September 16, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iPy7lwFLss3bf17Bancm0qSSNUTA|archivedate=October 24, 2013}}</ref> -The North Korean government strongly condemned Israel's actions: "This is a very dangerous provocation little short of wantonly violating the sovereignty of Syria and seriously harassing the regional peace and security."<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2007/200709/news09/12.htm|title=Israel Condemned for Intrusion into Syria's Territorial Air|publisher=Kcna.co.jp|date=September 11, 2007|accessdate=January 29, 2012|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2007/200709/news09/12.htm|archivedate=May 13, 2013}}</ref> +The North Korean government strongly condemned Israel's actions: "This is a very dangerous provocation little short of wantonly violating the sovereignty of Syria and seriously harassing the regional peace and security."<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2007/200709/news09/12.htm|title=Israel Condemned for Intrusion into Syria's Territorial Air|publisher=Kcna.co.jp|date=September 11, 2007|accessdate=January 29, 2012|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2007/200709/news09/12.htm|archivedate=May 13, 2013}}</ref> -On October 17, in reaction to the UN press office's release of a [[General Assembly First Committee|First Committee, Disarmament and International Security]] meeting's minutes that paraphrased an unnamed Syrian representative as saying that a nuclear facility was hit by the raid, Syria denied the statement, adding that "such facilities do not exist in Syria." However state-run [[Syrian Arab News Agency]] said that media reports had misquoted the Syrian diplomat.<ref name=usaf>"[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1192380718519&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull USAF struck Syrian nuclear site]", ''The Jerusalem Post'', 2007-11-02. Retrieved on 2007-11-03.</ref> +On October 17, in reaction to the UN press office's release of a [[General Assembly First Committee|First Committee, Disarmament and International Security]] meeting's minutes that paraphrased an unnamed Syrian representative as saying that a nuclear facility was hit by the raid, Syria denied the statement, adding that "such facilities do not exist in Syria." However state-run [[Syrian Arab News Agency]] said that media reports had misquoted the Syrian diplomat.<ref name=usaf>"{{cite enws|url=http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18652.htm|title=USAF struck Syrian "Nuclear" site|newspaper=''[[Information Clearing House]]''|date=November 2, 2007|accessdate=November 3, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18652.htm|archivedate=August 10, 2007}}</ref> -On the same day, the IAEA's [[Mohamed ElBaradei]] criticized the raid, saying that to bomb first and ask questions later "undermines the system and it doesn't lead to any solution to any suspicion."<ref>"[http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN28442767 IAEA chief criticizes Israel over Syria raid]", Reuters, 2007-10-28. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.</ref> The IAEA had been observing the disabling of the [[Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center|DPRK Yongbyon nuclear facilities]] since July 2007, and was responsible for the containment and surveillance of the fuel rods and other nuclear materials from there.<ref>"[http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Statements/2008/ebsp2008n003.html#dprk IAEA: Implementation of Safeguards in the DPRK]", IAEA: Statements of the Director General, Vienna, 2008-03-03. Retrieved on 2008-04-26</ref> +On the same day, the IAEA's [[Mohamed ElBaradei]] criticized the raid, saying that to bomb first and ask questions later "undermines the system and it doesn't lead to any solution to any suspicion."<ref>"{{cite news|url= http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN28442767|title=IAEA chief criticizes Israel over Syria raid|agency=Reuters|date=October 10, 20078|accessdate= October 28, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN28442767|archivedate=June 4, 2011}}</ref> The IAEA had been observing the disabling of the [[Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center|DPRK Yongbyon nuclear facilities]] since July 2007, and was responsible for the containment and surveillance of the fuel rods and other nuclear materials from there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Statements/2008/ebsp2008n003.html#dprk|title=IAEA: Implementation of Safeguards in the DPRK|publisher=IAEA: Statements of the Director General|place=[[Vienna]]|date=March 3, 2008|accessdate=April 26, 2008}}</ref> -''The New York Times'' on October 26 published satellite photographs showing that the Syrians had almost entirely removed all remains of the facility. U.S. intelligence sources noted that such an operation would usually take a year's time, and expressed astonishment at the speed with which it was carried out. Former weapons inspector [[David Albright]] believed that the work was meant to hide evidence of wrongdoing.<ref>"[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1192380657735&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Alleged Syrian atomic reactor 'vanishes']", ''The Jerusalem Post'', 2007-10-26. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.</ref><ref>"[http://www.isis-online.org/publications/SuspectSiteUpdate26October2007.pdf Syria Update II: Syria Buries Foundation of Suspect Reactor Site]". Institute for Science and International Security, 2007-10-26. Retrieved on 2007-10-28.</ref> +''The New York Times'' on October 26 published satellite photographs showing that the Syrians had almost entirely removed all remains of the facility. U.S. intelligence sources noted that such an operation would usually take a year's time, and expressed astonishment at the speed with which it was carried out. Former weapons inspector [[David Albright]] believed that the work was meant to hide evidence of wrongdoing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Alleged-Syrian-atomic-reactor-vanishes|title=Alleged Syrian atomic reactor 'vanishes' |newspaper=''The Jerusalem Post''|date=October 26, 2007|accessdate=October 28, 2007 |archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Alleged-Syrian-atomic-reactor-vanishes|archivedate=February 25, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isis-online.org/publications/SuspectSiteUpdate26October2007.pdf|title=Syria Update II: Syria Buries Foundation of Suspect Reactor Site|publisher=Institute for Science and International Security|date=October 26, 2007|accessdate=October 28, 2007|format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]}}</ref> The [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House]] Resolution 674, introduced on September 24, 2007, expressed “unequivocal support” ... “for Israel’s right to self defense in the face of an imminent nuclear or military threat from Syria.”<ref name="HRes674">"[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=hr110-674 Bill H. Res. 674: Expressing the unequivocal support of the House of Representatives for Israel's right to self...]", [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]], bill introduced 2007-09-24.</ref> -On April 28, 2008, CIA Director Michael Hayden said that a suspected Syrian reactor bombed by Israel had the capacity to produce enough nuclear material to fuel one to two weapons a year, and that it was of a "similar size and technology" to [[North Korea]]'s [[Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center]].<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN2820597020080429 UPDATE 2-Syrian reactor capacity was 1-2 weapons/year -CIA | Markets | Reuters]</ref> +On April 28, 2008, CIA Director Michael Hayden said that a suspected Syrian reactor bombed by Israel had the capacity to produce enough nuclear material to fuel one to two weapons a year, and that it was of a "similar size and technology" to [[North Korea]]'s [[Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center]].<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN2820597020080429 UPDATE 2-Syrian reactor capacity was 1-2 weapons/year -CIA|Markets|Reuters]</ref> -In his memoir ''[[Decision Points]]'', President [[George W. Bush]] claimed that the strike confirmed that Syria had been pursuing a nuclear-weapons program and that "intelligence is not an exact science", relating that while he had been told that U.S. analysts only had low confidence that the facility was part of a nuclear-weapons program, surveillance after the airstrike showed parts of the destroyed facility being covered up. Bush wrote that "if the facility was really just an innocent research lab, Syrian President Assad would have been screaming at the Israelis on the floor of the United Nations". He also wrote that in a telephone conversation with Olmert, he suggested that the operation be kept secret for a while and then made public to isolate the Syrian government, but Olmert asked for total secrecy, wanting to avoid anything that might force Syrian retaliation.<ref name="bush"/> +In his memoir ''[[Decision Points]]'', President [[George W. Bush]] claimed that the strike confirmed that Syria had been pursuing a nuclear-weapons program and that "intelligence is not an exact science", relating that while he had been told that U.S. analysts only had low confidence that the facility was part of a nuclear-weapons program, surveillance after the airstrike showed parts of the destroyed facility being covered up. Bush wrote that "if the facility was really just an innocent research lab, Syrian President Assad would have been screaming at the Israelis on the floor of the United Nations". He also wrote that in a telephone conversation with Olmert, he suggested that the operation be kept secret for a while and then made public to isolate the Syrian government, but Olmert asked for total secrecy, wanting to avoid anything that might force Syrian retaliation.<ref name=bush/> ==Release of intelligence== -On October 10, 2007 ''The New York Times'' reported that the Israelis had shared the Syrian strike dossier with Turkey. In turn the Turks traveled to Damascus and confronted the Syrians with the dossier alleging a nuclear program. Syria denied this with vigor saying that the target was a storage depot for strategic missiles.<ref>"[[Mark Mazzetti]]; Helene Cooper, [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/washington/10diplo.html An Israeli Strike on Syria Kindles Debate in the U.S.]", ''The New York Times'', 2007-10-10.</ref> On October 25, 2007 ''The New York Times'' reported that two commercial satellite photos taken before and after the raid showed that a square building no longer exists at the suspected site.<ref>{{cite news|author=William Broad|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/world/middleeast/26syria.html|title=Satellite Photos Show Cleansing of Suspect Syrian Site|newspaper=''The New York Times''|date=October 26, 2007|accessadte=October 26, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/world/middleeast/26syria.html|archivedate=June 23, 2007}}</ref> On October 27, 2007 ''The New York Times'' reported that the imaging company [[Geoeye]] released an image of the building from September 16, 2003, and from this security analyst [[John E. Pike|John Pike]] estimated that construction began in 2001. "A senior intelligence official" also told ''The New York Times'' that the U.S. has observed the site for years by spy satellite.<ref>{{cite news|author=William Broad and [[Mark Mazzetti]]|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/27/world/middleeast/27syria.html|title=Yet Another Photo of Site in Syria, Yet More Questions|newspaper=''The New York Times''|date=October 27, 2007|accessdate=October 27, 2007|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/27/world/middleeast/27syria.html|archivedate=October 29, 2007}}</ref> Subsequent searches of satellite imagery discovered that an astronaut aboard the International Space Station had taken a picture of the area on September 5, 2002. The image, though of low resolution, is good enough to show that the building existed as of that date. - -On January 11, 2008, [[DigitalGlobe]] released a satellite photo showing that a building similar to the suspected target of the attack had been rebuilt in the same location.<ref>{{cite news|author=William Broad, William|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/world/middleeast/12syria.html|title=Syria Rebuilds on Site Destroyed by Israeli Bombs|newspaper=''The New York Times''|date=January 12, 2008|accessdate=January 12, 2008|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/world/middleeast/12syria.html|archivedate=January 15, 2008}}</ref> However, an outside expert said that it was unlikely to be a reactor and could be cover for excavation of the old site.<ref>Mikkelsen, Randall. "[http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-31409020080115 Syria rebuilding at site bombed by Israel - report]", Reuters, 2008-01-15. Retrieved on 2008-01-16.</ref> On April 1, 2008 ''[[Asahi Shimbun]]'' reported that Ehud Olmert told Japanese Prime Minister [[Yasuo Fukuda]] during a meeting on February 27 that the target of the strike was "nuclear-related facility that was under construction with know-how and assistance from North Korean technicians dispatched by Pyongyang."<ref>"[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3526056,00.html Report: Olmert admitted Israel struck Syrian nuclear facility]", Ynetnews, 2008-04-01. Retrieved on 2008-04-01.</ref> On April 24, 2008, the CIA released a video<ref name=CIA-video>{{cite journal|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7366235.stm|title=CIA footage in full|publisher=BBC|date=April 29, 2008|accessdate=January 4, 2009|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7366235.stm|archivedate=April 29, 2008}}</ref> and background briefing,<ref name=DNI-briefing>{{cite journal|url=http://www.dni.gov/interviews/20080424_interview.pdf|title=Background Briefing with Senior U.S. Officials on Syria's Covert Nuclear Reactor and North Korea's Involvement|publisher=[[Director of National Intelligence]]|date=April 29, 2008|accessdate=January 4, 2009}}</ref> which it claims shows similarities between the North Korean nuclear reactor in Yongbyon and the one in Syria which was bombed by Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/23/AR2008042302906.html|work=The Washington Post|title= N. Koreans Taped At Syrian Reactor|first=Robin|last=Wright|date=April 24, 2008| accessdate=May 20, 2010}}</ref> According to a U.S. official, there did not appear to be any uranium at the reactor, and although it was almost completed, it could not have been declared operational without significant testing.<ref>Hess, Pamela. "[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jFfwhKUyQcvjmRGM0jmHNa0T4W_wD908D4FG0 US shows evidence of alleged Syria-N. Korea nuke collaboration]{{Dead link|date=July 2008}}", Associated Press, 2008-04-24. Retrieved on 2008-04-24.</ref> +On October 10, 2007 ''The New York Times'' reported that the Israelis had shared the Syrian strike dossier with Turkey. In turn the Turks traveled to Damascus and confronted the Syrians with the dossier alleging a nuclear program. Syria denied this with vigor saying that the target was a storage depot for strategic missiles.<ref>{{cite news|author=[[Mark Mazzetti]] and Helene Cooper|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/washington/10diplo.html|title=An Israeli Strike on Syria Kindles Debate in the U.S.|newspaper=''The New York Times''|date=October 10, 2007|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/washington/10diplo.html|archivedate=June 23, 2007}}</ref> On October 25, 2007 ''The New York Times'' reported that two commercial satellite photos taken before and after the raid showed that a square building no longer exists at the suspected site.<ref>{{cite news|author=William Broad|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/world/middleeast/26syria.html|title=Satellite Photos Show Cleansing of Suspect Syrian Site|newspaper=''The New York Times''|date= October 26, 2007|accessdate=October 26, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/world/middleeast/26syria.html|archivedate=June 23, 2007}}</ref> On October 27, 2007 ''The New York Times'' reported that the imaging company [[Geoeye]] released an image of the building from September 16, 2003, and from this security analyst [[John E. Pike|John Pike]] estimated that construction began in 2001. "A senior intelligence official" also told ''The New York Times'' that the U.S. has observed the site for years by spy satellite.<ref>{{cite news|author=William Broad and [[Mark Mazzetti]]|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/27/world/middleeast/27syria.html|title=Yet Another Photo of Site in Syria, Yet More Questions|newspaper=''The New York Times''|date=October 27, 2007|accessdate=October 27, 2007|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/27/world/middleeast/27syria.html|archivedate=October 29, 2007}}</ref> Subsequent searches of satellite imagery discovered that an astronaut aboard the International Space Station had taken a picture of the area on September 5, 2002. The image, though of low resolution, is good enough to show that the building existed as of that date. + +On January 11, 2008, [[DigitalGlobe]] released a satellite photo showing that a building similar to the suspected target of the attack had been rebuilt in the same location.<ref>{{cite news|author=William Broad, William|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/world/middleeast/12syria.html|title=Syria Rebuilds on Site Destroyed by Israeli Bombs|newspaper=''The New York Times''|date=January 12, 2008|accessdate=January 12, 2008|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/world/middleeast/12syria.html|archivedate=January 15, 2008}}</ref> However, an outside expert said that it was unlikely to be a reactor and could be cover for excavation of the old site.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mikkelsen|first=Randall|url= http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-31409020080115|title=Syria rebuilding at site bombed by Israel - report|agency=Reuters|date=January 15, 2008|accessdate=January 16, 2008|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-31409020080115|archivedate=August 13, 2011}}</ref> On April 1, 2008 ''[[Asahi Shimbun]]'' reported that Ehud Olmert told Japanese Prime Minister [[Yasuo Fukuda]] during a meeting on February 27 that the target of the strike was "nuclear-related facility that was under construction with know-how and assistance from North Korean technicians dispatched by Pyongyang."<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3526056,00.html|title=Report: Olmert admitted Israel struck Syrian nuclear facility|agency=Ynetnews|date=April 1, 2008|accessdate=April 1, 2008|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3526056,00.html|archivedate=April 3, 2008}}</ref> On April 24, 2008, the CIA released a video<ref name=CIA-video>{{cite journal|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7366235.stm|title=CIA footage in full|publisher=BBC|date= April 29, 2008|accessdate=January 4, 2009|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7366235.stm|archivedate=April 29, 2008}}</ref> and background briefing,<ref name=DNI-briefing>{{cite journal|url=http://www.dni.gov/interviews/20080424_interview.pdf|title=Background Briefing with Senior U.S. Officials on Syria's Covert Nuclear Reactor and North Korea's Involvement|publisher=[[Director of National Intelligence]]|date=April 29, 2008|accessdate=January 4, 2009}}</ref> which it claims shows similarities between the North Korean nuclear reactor in Yongbyon and the one in Syria which was bombed by Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/23/AR2008042302906.html|work=The Washington Post|title= N. Koreans Taped At Syrian Reactor|first=Robin|last=Wright|date=April 24, 2008| accessdate=May 20, 2010}}</ref> According to a U.S. official, there did not appear to be any uranium at the reactor, and although it was almost completed, it could not have been declared operational without significant testing.<ref>{{cite news|last= Hess|first=Pamela|url=http://archive.is/RTqPm|title=US shows evidence of alleged Syria-N. Korea nuke collaboration|agency=Associated Press|date=April 24, 2008 |accessdate=April 24, 2008}}</ref> -A statement from the [[White House Press Secretary]] on April 24, 2008 followed the briefing given to some Congressional committees that week. According to the statement, the administration believed that Syria had been building a covert reactor with North Korean assistance that was capable of producing [[plutonium]], and that the purpose was non-peaceful. It was also stated that the IAEA was being briefed with the intelligence.<ref>[[White House]] (2008-04-24). "[http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/04/20080424-14.html Statement by the Press Secretary]". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-04-24.</ref> The IAEA confirmed receipt of the information, and planned to investigate. It was critical of not being informed earlier, and described the unilateral use of force as "undermining the due process of verification".<ref>"[http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/PressRelease/2008/prn200806.html Press Release 2008/06: Statement by IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei]{{Dead link|date=July 2008}}", IAEA, 2008-04-25. Retrieved 2008-04-26</ref> +A statement from the [[White House Press Secretary]] on April 24, 2008 followed the briefing given to some Congressional committees that week. According to the statement, the administration believed that Syria had been building a covert reactor with North Korean assistance that was capable of producing [[plutonium]], and that the purpose was non-peaceful. It was also stated that the IAEA was being briefed with the intelligence.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[White House]]|date=April 24, 2008|url= http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/04/20080424-14.html |title=Statement by the Press Secretary|publisher=Press release|accessdate=April 24, 2008|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2008/04/20080424-14.html|archivedate=September 26, 2011}}</ref> The IAEA confirmed receipt of the information, and planned to investigate. It was critical of not being informed earlier, and described the unilateral use of force as "undermining the due process of verification".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/2008/prn200806.html|title=Press Release 2008/06: Statement by IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei|publisher= IAEA|date=April 25, 2008|accessdate=April 26, 2008}}</ref> -Syrian officials, however, denied any North Korean involvement in their country. According to the BBC, Syria's ambassador to the UK, Sami Khiyami, dismissed the allegations as ridiculous. "We are used to such allegations now, since the day the United States has invaded Iraq - you remember all the theatrical presentations concerning the [[weapons of mass destruction]] in Iraq." Mr Khiyami said the facility was a deserted military building that had "nothing to do with a reactor".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7364269.stm|work=BBC News| title=Syria 'had covert nuclear scheme'|date=April 25, 2008|accessdate=May 20, 2010|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7364269.stm|archivedate=April 26, 2008}}</ref> +Syrian officials, however, denied any North Korean involvement in their country. According to the BBC, Syria's ambassador to the UK, Sami Khiyami, dismissed the allegations as ridiculous. "We are used to such allegations now, since the day the United States has invaded Iraq - you remember all the theatrical presentations concerning the [[weapons of mass destruction]] in Iraq." Mr Khiyami said the facility was a deserted military building that had "nothing to do with a reactor".<ref>{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7364269.stm|work=BBC News|title=Syria 'had covert nuclear scheme'|date=April 25, 2008|accessdate=May 20, 2010|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7364269.stm|archivedate=April 26, 2008}}</ref> ==Initial scepticism about the US and Israeli claims== -Despite the release of intelligence information from the American and Israeli sources, the attack on the Syrian site was initially controversial. Some commentators have argued that at the time of the attack the site had no obvious barbed wire or air defenses that would normally ring a sensitive military facility.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/world/middleeast/12syria.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | work=The New York Times|title=Syria Rebuilds on Site Destroyed by Israeli Bombs | first=William J.|last=Broad|date=January 12, 2008|accessdate=May 20, 2010}}</ref> [[Mohammed ElBaradei]] had previously stated that Syria's ability to construct and run a complex nuclear process was doubtful - speaking ahead of the IAEA inspection of the alleged Syrian nuclear site, which has been demolished, he said: "It is doubtful we will find anything there now, assuming there was anything in the first place."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7463044.st|work=BBC News| title=Will Syrian site mystery be solved?|date=June 23, 2008|accessdate=May 20, 2010 |first=Paul|last=Reynolds}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that after the publishing of US intelligence data on April 24, "two senior intelligence officials acknowledged that the evidence had left them with no more than “low confidence” that Syria was preparing to build a nuclear weapon. However, while they said that there was no sign that Syria had built an operation to convert the spent fuel from the plant into [[weapons-grade plutonium]], they had told [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] last year that they could think of no other explanation for the reactor."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/world/middleeast/25korea.html?pagewanted=1|work=The New York Times|title=Bush Administration Releases Images to Bolster Its Claims About Syrian Reactor|first=David E.|last=Sanger|date=April 25, 2008|accessdate=May 20, 2010|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/world/middleeast/25korea.html?pagewanted=1|archivedate=May 13, 2013}}</ref> BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Jonathan Marcus commented on the release of the CIA video that "Briefings about alleged weapons of mass destruction programmes have a lot to live down in the wake of the US experience in Iraq".<ref>{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7366868.stm|work=BBC News|title=US Syria claims raise wider doubts|date=April 25, 2008| accessdate=May 20, 2010|first=Jonathan|last=Marcus|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7366868.stm|archivedate=November 22, 2008}}</ref> +Despite the release of intelligence information from the American and Israeli sources, the attack on the Syrian site was initially controversial. Some commentators have argued that at the time of the attack the site had no obvious barbed wire or air defenses that would normally ring a sensitive military facility.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/world/middleeast/12syria.html?_r=1&oref=slogin| work=The New York Times|title=Syria Rebuilds on Site Destroyed by Israeli Bombs| first=William J.|last=Broad|date=January 12, 2008|accessdate=May 20, 2010|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/world/middleeast/12syria.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|archivedate=January 15, 2008}}</ref> [[Mohammed ElBaradei]] had previously stated that Syria's ability to construct and run a complex nuclear process was doubtful - speaking ahead of the IAEA inspection of the alleged Syrian nuclear site, which has been demolished, he said: "It is doubtful we will find anything there now, assuming there was anything in the first place."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7463044.stm|work=BBC News|title=Will Syrian site mystery be solved?|date=June 23, 2008|accessdate=May 20, 2010 |first=Paul|last=Reynolds|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7463044.stm|archivedate=November 22, 2008}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that after the publishing of US intelligence data on April 24, "two senior intelligence officials acknowledged that the evidence had left them with no more than “low confidence” that Syria was preparing to build a nuclear weapon. However, while they said that there was no sign that Syria had built an operation to convert the spent fuel from the plant into [[weapons-grade plutonium]], they had told [[George W. Bush|President Bush]] last year that they could think of no other explanation for the reactor."<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/world/middleeast/25korea.html?pagewanted=1|work=The New York Times|title=Bush Administration Releases Images to Bolster Its Claims About Syrian Reactor|first=David E.|last=Sanger|date=April 25, 2008|accessdate=May 20, 2010|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/world/middleeast/25korea.html?pagewanted=1|archivedate=May 13, 2013}}</ref> BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Jonathan Marcus commented on the release of the CIA video that "Briefings about alleged weapons of mass destruction programmes have a lot to live down in the wake of the US experience in Iraq".<ref>{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7366868.stm|work=BBC News|title=US Syria claims raise wider doubts|date=April 25, 2008|accessdate=May 20, 2010|first= Jonathan|last=Marcus|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7366868.stm|archivedate=November 22, 2008}}</ref> ==IAEA investigation== -On November 19, 2008, IAEA released a report<ref name=IAEA-GOV/2008/60>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.isis-online.org/publications/syria/IAEA_Report_Syria_19Nov2008.pdf|title=Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic|publisher=[[IAEA]]|date= November 19, 2008|accessdate=January 4, 2009}}</ref> which said the Syrian complex bore features resembling those of an undeclared nuclear reactor and U.N. inspectors found "significant" traces of uranium at the site. The report said the findings gleaned from inspectors' visit to the site in June were not enough to conclude a reactor was once there. It said further investigation and greater Syrian transparency were needed. The confidential nuclear safeguards report said Syria would be asked to show to inspectors debris and equipment whisked away from the site after the September 2007 Israeli air raid.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4AI4WB20081119|title=Syria site hit by Israel resembled atom plant: IAEA|publisher=Reuters|date=November 19, 2008|accessdate=January 4, 2009}}</ref> +On November 19, 2008, IAEA released a report<ref name=IAEA-GOV/2008/60>{{cite journal|url=http://www.isis-online.org/publications/syria/IAEA_Report_Syria_19Nov2008.pdf|title=Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Syrian Arab Republic|publisher=[[IAEA]]|date= November 19, 2008|accessdate=January 4, 2009}}</ref> which said the Syrian complex bore features resembling those of an undeclared nuclear reactor and U.N. inspectors found "significant" traces of uranium at the site. The report said the findings gleaned from inspectors' visit to the site in June were not enough to conclude a reactor was once there. It said further investigation and greater Syrian transparency were needed. The confidential nuclear safeguards report said Syria would be asked to show to inspectors debris and equipment whisked away from the site after the September 2007 Israeli air raid.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4AI4WB20081119|title=Syria site hit by Israel resembled atom plant: IAEA|publisher=Reuters|date=November 19, 2008|accessdate=January 4, 2009|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4AI4WB20081119|archivedate=June 29, 2011}}</ref> On February 19, 2009, the IAEA reported that samples taken from the site revealed new traces of processed uranium. A senior UN official said additional analysis of the June find had found 40 more uranium particles, for a total of 80 particles, and described it as significant. He added that experts were analyzing minute traces of graphite and stainless steel found at and near the site, but said that it was too early to relate them to nuclear activity. The report noted Syria's refusal to allow agency inspectors to make follow-up visits to sites suspected of harboring a secret nuclear program despite repeated requests from top agency officials.<ref name=february19>{{cite news|issn=0294-8052|title=UN agency finds new uranium traces at Syrian site|work=[[International New York Times|The International Herald Tribune]]|accessdate=February 19, 2009|date=February 19, 2009|url= http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/02/19/europe/EU-Nuclear-Agency-Syria-Iran.php -|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/02/19/europe/EU-Nuclear-Agency-Syria-Iran.php|archivedate=October 17, 2012}}</ref> Syria disputed these claims. According to Syria's IAEA representative Othman, there would have been a large amount of graphite had the building been a nuclear reactor. Othman continued, "They found 80 particles in half a million tonnes of soil. I don't know how you can use that figure to accuse somebody of building such a facility."<ref name="google.com"/> +|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/02/19/europe/EU-Nuclear-Agency-Syria-Iran.php|archivedate=October 17, 2012}}</ref> Syria disputed these claims. According to Syria's IAEA representative Othman, there would have been a large amount of graphite had the building been a nuclear reactor. Othman continued, "They found 80 particles in half a million tonnes of soil. I don't know how you can use that figure to accuse somebody of building such a facility."<ref name="google.com"/> -The IAEA approach has been criticized by Robert Kelley, a [[US Department of Energy|US DOE]] engineer who wrote: "The agency’s claims that the particles are not of the correct isotopic and chemical composition for missiles, displays an appalling lack of technical knowledge about military munitions based on information from questionable sources. If the IAEA is to be respected it must get proper technical advice. For example deep earth penetrating bombs, not missiles were used in Syria."<ref>{{cite web|last=Kelley|first=Robert|title=Next Steps Forward for the IAEA and Iran|url=http://armscontrollaw.com/2013/01/31/robert-kelley-next-steps-forward-for-the-iaea-and-iran/|publisher=ArmsControlLaw.com|accessdate=February 2013}}</ref> +The IAEA approach has been criticized by Robert Kelley, a [[US Department of Energy|US DOE]] engineer who wrote: "The agency’s claims that the particles are not of the correct isotopic and chemical composition for missiles, displays an appalling lack of technical knowledge about military munitions based on information from questionable sources. If the IAEA is to be respected it must get proper technical advice. For example deep earth penetrating bombs, not missiles were used in Syria."<ref>{{cite web|last=Kelley|first=Robert|title=Next Steps Forward for the IAEA and Iran|url=http://armscontrollaw.com/2013/01/31/robert-kelley-next-steps-forward-for-the-iaea-and-iran/|publisher=ArmsControlLaw.com|accessdate=February 2013|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://armscontrollaw.com/2013/01/31/robert-kelley-next-steps-forward-for-the-iaea-and-iran/|archivedate=February 6, 2013}}</ref> -In a November, 2009 report, the IAEA stated that its investigation had been stymied due to Syria's failure to cooperate.<ref name="AFP">{{cite news|url= http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h5unOYKKK_uObtyARlvuJiY5jU_w|title=IAEA inspects nuclear research reactor in Syria|publisher=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|date=November 17, 2009|accessdate=February 3, 2010|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h5unOYKKK_uObtyARlvuJiY5jU_w|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> The following February, under the new leadership of [[Yukiya Amano]], the IAEA stated that "The presence of such [uranium] particles points to the possibility of nuclear-related activities at the site and adds to questions concerning the nature of the destroyed building...Syria has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation for the origin and presence of these particles".<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Heinrich |title=IAEA suspects Syrian nuclear activity at bombed site|url= http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61H66320100218|publisher=Reuters|date=February 18, 2010|accessdate=February 18, 2010|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61H66320100218|archivedate=November 14, 2012}}</ref> Syria disputed these allegations, saying that there is not a military nuclear program in the country and that it has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially in the field of nuclear medicine. Syria's foreign minister said, "We are committed to the non-proliferation agreement between the agency and Syria and we (only) allow inspectors to come according to this agreement...We will not allow anything beyond the agreement because Syria does not have a military nuclear program. Syria is not obliged to open its other sites to inspectors."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/20/AR2010022001469.html|work=The Washington Post}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> Syria maintains that the natural uranium found at the site came from Israeli missiles.<ref>[http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20100222_8492.php ]{{Dead link|date=January 2012}}</ref> -On April 28, 2010, the head of the IAEA, [[Yukiya Amano]] declared for the first time that the target was indeed the covert site of a future nuclear reactor, countering Syrian assertions.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/04/201142962917518797.html|title=Syria target hit by Israel was 'nuclear site'|agency=[[Al Jazeera]]|date=April 29, 2011|accessdate=February 7, 2014|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/04/201142962917518797.html|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> +In a November, 2009 report, the IAEA stated that its investigation had been stymied due to Syria's failure to cooperate.<ref name="AFP">{{cite news|url= http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h5unOYKKK_uObtyARlvuJiY5jU_w|title=IAEA inspects nuclear research reactor in Syria|publisher=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]]|date=November 17, 2009|accessdate=February 3, 2010|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h5unOYKKK_uObtyARlvuJiY5jU_w|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> The following February, under the new leadership of [[Yukiya Amano]], the IAEA stated that "The presence of such [uranium] particles points to the possibility of nuclear-related activities at the site and adds to questions concerning the nature of the destroyed building...Syria has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation for the origin and presence of these particles".<ref>{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Heinrich |title=IAEA suspects Syrian nuclear activity at bombed site|url= http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61H66320100218|publisher=Reuters|date=February 18, 2010|accessdate=February 18, 2010|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61H66320100218|archivedate=November 14, 2012}}</ref> Syria disputed these allegations, saying that there is not a military nuclear program in the country and that it has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially in the field of nuclear medicine. Syria's foreign minister said, "We are committed to the non-proliferation agreement between the agency and Syria and we (only) allow inspectors to come according to this agreement...We will not allow anything beyond the agreement because Syria does not have a military nuclear program. Syria is not obliged to open its other sites to inspectors."<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/20/AR2010022001469.html|work=The Washington Post}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> Syria maintains that the natural uranium found at the site came from Israeli missiles.<ref>[http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20100222_8492.php ]{{Dead link|date=January 2012}}</ref> +On April 28, 2010, the head of the IAEA, [[Yukiya Amano]] declared for the first time that the target was indeed the covert site of a future nuclear reactor, countering Syrian assertions.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/04/201142962917518797.html|title=Syria target hit by Israel was 'nuclear site'|agency=[[Al Jazeera]]|date=April 29, 2011|accessdate=February 7, 2014|archiveurl= +//web.archive.org/web/20121105015114/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/04/201142962917518797.html|archivedate=February 7, 2014}}</ref> ==See also== *[[Syria and weapons of mass destruction]] '