(IsraelNN.com) United Nations investigators have found traces of uranium contamination at the site of an Israeli air strike in Syria, diplomats told Reutersand German media sources on Monday. The report is the first sign of a “smoking gun” proving that Syria was in fact building a secret nuclear reactor on the site, as Israel and the United States have insisted.
The diplomats said the traces of uranium were first found in June. What has been found so far is not conclusive evidence of nuclear activity, but “raises questions,” they said.
Officials in the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did not confirm or deny the report. In September, IAEA head Mohammed el-Baradei said the investigation conducted in June had revealed no sign of nuclear activity.
El-Baradei is currently preparing a report on Syria's nuclear activity — a step that some diplomats say indicates the IAEA has found enough evidence to lead investigators to suspect nuclear development. In addition, the UN is expected to discuss Syria's alleged nuclear activities later in the month.