Full Breakdown
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Details Israel’s 2007 Strike on a Syrian Nuclear Facility
By Drooid · · How we work
Operation Overview
In 2007 Israel carried out an airstrike that destroyed a suspected nuclear reactor at al-Kibar in eastern Syria. The strike remained unacknowledged until Israel formally admitted responsibility in 2018. Former prime minister Ehud Olmert, who was premier at the time, said the decision was made after senior intelligence officials presented him with conclusive evidence of the reactor’s existence.
Intelligence Development
Olmert recounted that the breakthrough originated with a Mossad officer known only as “Anat.” Despite senior officers telling her there was no proof of a Syrian program, Anat’s “instinct” and exposure to fragmented intelligence convinced her otherwise. After completing her training she requested to focus on Syrian nuclear activity rather than Iran. Her persistence met resistance, including after two failed operations targeting Ibrahim Othman, head of Syria’s Atomic Energy Commission. Olmert said former Mossad chief Meir Dagan later invited Anat to discuss the operation, noting Dagan’s habit of hearing “what others were not saying.” A meeting that also included Tamir Pardo and Amnon Sofrin delivered the intelligence to Olmert.
Secrecy and Scale
Olmert estimated roughly 2,500 individuals were aware of the surveillance effort and required them to sign declarations warning that any leak would trigger a Shin Bet investigation. To limit exposure, key discussions were held at Olmert’s private residence rather than the Prime Minister’s Office. He recalled the then-U.S. president, George W. Bush, commenting, “The fact that it didn’t leak from us – it’s a miracle.”
Assessment of the Nuclear Threat
Olmert argued that a Syrian nuclear capability posed an existential danger distinct from conventional attacks such as the October 7 assault or the 1973 Yom Kippur War. He also suggested that the mere perception of a nuclear threat could have broader societal impacts, potentially prompting emigration.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I told them: ‘There is a nuclear reactor in Syria, we will destroy it,’” — Ehud Olmert, former prime minister
- “One of her commanders told her: ‘Stop confusing your mind; we’ve already carried out two operations on Ibrahim Othman, and we haven’t discovered anything. There’s nothing; what do you want from us?’” — Ehud Olmert, former prime minister
- “The fact that it didn’t leak from us – it’s a miracle.” — Ehud Olmert, former prime minister
- “There is a difference between a few thousand Nubah fighters and a nuclear bomb,” — Ehud Olmert, former prime minister
- “A second blow comes after you take a blow, and if you take a nuclear blow – the dimensions of the disaster are unlike anything we have experienced in our 80 years of existence.” — Ehud Olmert, former prime minister