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Assad's Secret: Evidence Points to Syrian Push for Nuclear Weapons
(Der Spiegel-Germany) Erich Follath - Secret information obtained by Der Spiegel indicates that Syria's Assad has apparently built a new nuclear facility at a secret location, despite the Israeli raid that destroyed the almost-completed Kibar nuclear facility on Sept. 5, 2007. Western intelligence agencies say that the Syrian atomic weapon program has continued in a secret, underground location. Approximately 8,000 fuel rods are stored there, and a new reactor or an enrichment facility has very likely been built at the site. Intelligence agency findings indicate that suspicious material was moved to a well-hidden underground location just west of the city of Qusayr, less than two km. from the border with Lebanon. The site has special access to the power grid. The clearest proof that it is a nuclear facility comes from recently intercepted radio traffic. A voice identified as a high-ranking Hizbullah functionary can be heard referring to the "atomic factory" and mentions Qusayr. The Hizbullah man frequently provides telephone updates to Ibrahim Othman, the head of the Syrian Atomic Energy Commission. Work performed at the site by members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard is also mentioned.