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Israeli special forces unit (illustrative photo: Flash90)
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| By Israel Insider staff September 23, 2007 |
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Israeli commandos seized nuclear material of North Korea origin in a secret military site in norther Syria in order to gain US approval for a strike on the site, according to the London Times. The US demanded "clear evidence of nuclear-related activities before giving the operation its blessing," Haaretz reported, citing sources in Washington and Jerusalem.
IDF commandos, "almost certainly dressed in Syrian uniforms," seized samples of the nuclear material in covert raids and took them back to Israel for testing. They located the nuclear material at a compound near Dayr az-Zwar in the north.
Sources confirmed that samples taken from Syria for testing had been identified as North Korean. The discovery caused concern that Syria might have joined North Korea and Iran in seeking to acquire nuclear capability.
Although Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has not officially confirmed the attack, Newsweek quoted Binyamin Netanyahu's adviser, Uzi Arad, in reference to the Syria operation, saying "I do know what happened, and when it comes out it will stun everyone," according to Haaretz.
According to media reports, the compound was left in ruins following the IAF strike. There is also speculation that some North Koreans died in the attack.
Israeli officials are concerned about Syria's possible retaliation for the alleged strike against its nascent nuclear facilities. Some sources have predicted a proxy attack on Israeli or Jewish targets around the world by Syrian-funded terrorist groups. As a result, the IDF troops are on high alert along Israel's northern border.
The Sunday Times quoted an Israeli intelligence expert as saying, "Syria has retaliated in the past for much smaller humiliations, but they will choose the place, the time and the target," according to Haaretz.
Syrian officials flew to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, last week, reinforcing suspicions that the two nations were coordinating a response.
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