Publication

This publication looks at the Israeli Air Force’s 2007 bombing of Syria’s nuclear reactor in Al-Kibar in the Euphrates valley. Key insights include 1) that the Al-Kibar bombing is a clear demonstration of Israel’s Begin Doctrine, which basically entails that the country will not tolerate the acquisition of nuclear weapons by its declared enemies; 2) that while successful, the collection of the intelligence that made the 2007 strike possible was problematic at best; 3) this issue highlights the inherent pitfalls plaguing intelligence gathering and decision-making processes concerning the acquisition of nuclear weapons by rogue states, such as Iran and North Korea, and more.