International Atomic Energy Agency inspection officials who arrived on Sunday in Syria with the intent of discovering whether or not Syria has developed a secret nuclear weapons program expressed careful optimism, saying that “their visit will hopefully be the beginning of a thorough and deep investigation.” The investigation is expected to last three days. Syrian officials however, have limited the inspectors’ access to various sites and locations.  IAEA officials stated that “it is as yet unclear if Syria intends to cooperate and tell the truth of to lie and deceive us as to what was done at Deyr-az-Zeyr”

Damascus denies having any secret nuclear programs; however a joint Israeli-US intelligence effort led to an Israel Air Force surgical strike on a mysterious Syrian facility near the northern Syrian city last September.