Olmert reveals intelligence breakthrough leading to Israel's 2007 strike on Syrian nuclear reactor

Former prime minister Ehud Olmert revealed new details about the intelligence breakthrough that led to Israel's 2007 strike on a Syrian nuclear reactor. In an interview with Channel 12, Olmert said a young Mossad recruit named "Anat" insisted Syria was pursuing nuclear weapons despite resistance from superiors. The intelligence eventually reached Olmert, who ordered the reactor's destruction. Olmert described the operation's secrecy, with about 2,500 people aware of the surveillance, and noted then-US President George W. Bush praised the lack of leaks.

Former prime minister Ehud Olmert provided new details of Israel's 2007 operation to destroy a Syrian nuclear reactor during an interview with Channel 12's Amit Segal. Olmert said the intelligence breakthrough began with a young Mossad officer referred to as "Anat," who became convinced Syria was pursuing a nuclear program despite being told there was no evidence. After completing her training, Anat requested to work on Syrian nuclear activity rather than Iran. "She had an instinct," Olmert said. Anat faced resistance from superiors, including after two operations targeting Ibrahim Othman, head of Syria's Atomic Energy Commission, failed to produce evidence. One commander told her: "Stop confusing your mind; we've already carried out two operations on Ibrahim Othman, and we haven't discovered anything." She remained in the Mossad and eventually became a senior official. Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan later invited Anat to a discussion about the operation despite her junior rank, telling Olmert he had a rule of inviting people who might "tell me what others were not saying." The intelligence reached Olmert, who was prime minister at the time. At a meeting with Dagan, Tamir Pardo, Amnon Sofrin, and another Mossad official, Olmert received the intelligence. He then summoned advisers Yoram Turbowicz and Shalom Turgeman. "I told them: 'There is a nuclear reactor in Syria, we will destroy it,'" Olmert said. The operation included preparations for the possibility of war with Syria. Israel considered abducting Othman to obtain evidence. Israel ultimately destroyed the reactor in September 2007 in an airstrike on the facility at al-Kibar in eastern Syria. Olmert said maintaining secrecy was critical, estimating about 2,500 people knew of the surveillance. Those involved signed declarations that a leak would lead to a Shin Bet investigation. Olmert held key meetings at his official residence to reduce exposure risk. Then-US president George W. Bush told Olmert: "The fact that it didn't leak from you is a big deal. The fact that it didn't leak from us – it's a miracle." Olmert said Syria's nuclear program represented an existential threat, though he did not believe Assad would necessarily have used a nuclear weapon. "But it's not a risk I can take," he said. Olmert distinguished the October 7 attack from a nuclear threat, arguing Israel could recover from a conventional attack while a nuclear strike would have consequences "unlike anything we have experienced in our 80 years of existence."