Overview

• Planet Labs images from July 5 show intensified work near the original reactor, with thick concrete retaining walls, cranes, and what appears to be multiple underground floors.
• Seven specialists who reviewed the imagery believe the project is tied to Israel’s suspected weapons program due to its location, though they differ on its purpose.
• Three experts judge a new heavy water reactor most likely, while four say the structure could be a reactor or a facility for assembling or maintaining nuclear weapons.
• Analysts note that Dimona’s 1960s-era reactor has far exceeded typical lifespans, raising the possibility of replacement needs and potential tritium production to sustain existing warheads.
• The IAEA says Israel is not obliged to disclose information about facilities outside Soreq, Israel and the White House declined to comment, and the development comes after June strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.