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The Diplomat
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Diplomat
Japan Steps Up New Security Assistance to Countries Caught Between US and China
Japan is expanding its security assistance to strategically located countries across the Indo-Pacific, reflecting Tokyo's embrace of its security role in the region and its desire to provide more options to countries that feel caught between the United States and China. That aid comes through the Official Security Assistance (OSA) program, which is only in its third year but has grown considerably, from about $13.8 million in 2023 to about $34.6 million in 2024 to about $56 million for the 2025 fiscal year, which began on April 1. The number of recipients has also increased from four in each of the first two years to the eight countries now in discussions with Tokyo, Japanese media reported last month. Those candidates are Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, which have received OSA grants in the past (the Philippines in both years), and Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Tonga, which would be first-time recipients. Japan has provided some security-related resources through its long-running Official Development Assistance program, but that program is officially for economic and social development and has generally focused on non-military aid. It also hasn't provided aid directly to foreign militaries. OSA is meant to provide equipment, supplies, and support for infrastructure to 'armed forces and related organizations of like-minded countries' to strengthen 'their security and deterrence capabilities,' according to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which says OSA projects 'are limited to areas not directly related to international conflict.' OSA was unveiled in Japan's 2022 National Security Strategy, and while it has received less attention than other initiatives announced in that document – most notably the counterstrike missile capability – it is still significant. 'This is an important shift for Japan' because it means official assistance 'is being tied to security issues,' Robert Ward, Japan Chair at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, said at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31. 'Japan is keen, I think, to make sure that that is directed at coast guards and anything that's to do with the maintenance of the rule of law in the region,' Ward said, adding that the OSA was 'an important example of' the broader change in Japanese foreign policy. 'It's worth keeping an eye on OSA,' he added. 'Don't Want to Have to Choose' OSA has focused on improving recipients' ability to monitor their waters and airspace. In 2023, it funded patrol boats for Fiji's and Bangladesh's navies, rescue boats for Malaysia's military, and coastal radars for the Armed Forces of the Philippines. OSA projects expanded in value and scope in 2024, providing high-speed patrol boats to Indonesia's navy, coastal radars to Djibouti's navy, air-traffic-control systems to Mongolia's air force, and a rigid-hull inflatable boat and coastal radars to the Philippine Navy, as well as equipment for an air-surveillance radar previously sold to the Philippine Air Force. 'There are some priority targeted areas,' including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, Saya Kiba, an expert on Southeast Asian security at Japan's Kobe City University, said at an event hosted by Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok in March. 'It's non-kinetic. It's more for the capacity-building,' Kiba said. While OSA grants have been modest, Japanese officials hope to increase them as they get a better sense of other countries' needs. Some also see OSA as a step toward future arms deals. 'They can try our defense equipment, and then if they like, probably they can buy the more expensive one from Japan,' Kiba said. OSA serves Tokyo's immediate interests by boosting recipients' military capabilities, contributing to stability in what it sees as a deteriorating security environment and supporting the rule of law, including freedom of navigation at sea. When it announced the first OSA grants in late 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the recipients were responsible for monitoring 'important sea lanes' and the aid was intended 'to contribute to maintaining and strengthening maritime security.' In its 2024 grant announcements, the ministry said 'enhancing' receiving countries' 'security and deterrence capability' would strengthen their security cooperation with Japan and 'create a desirable security environment' for Tokyo. Japan also wants to present itself as another option for countries trying to balance their relationships with the U.S. and China. That can be 'difficult' at times because Japan is an official U.S. ally, Ward said, but overall Tokyo 'doesn't want to alienate China, wants to keep relations with the U.S. good, but also wants to provide this sort of center away for countries that don't want to have to choose.' That combination of motives is visible in the distribution of OSA projects. Djibouti, for instance, overlooks important sea lanes and hosts U.S. and Chinese (and Japanese) military bases. Fiji and other Pacific Island states are also near important sea lanes and are being courted by China and the U.S. and its allies. Other countries, like Sri Lanka, are in a similar situation, but Tokyo is particularly interested in Southeast Asia, an economically dynamic region that sits astride important maritime trade routes and faces a growing challenge from U.S.-China competition. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 'is so strategically critical that Japan hopes that that desire not to antagonize China, to work with China, also resonates within ASEAN,' Ward said. 'Japan has very good, deep economic relations with ASEAN' and is generally trusted by its 10 members, Ward added. That was reflected in the 2025 State of Southeast Asia survey, in which ASEAN respondents ranked Japan as their most trusted major power and as the third-most important ASEAN Dialogue Partner, behind China and the U.S. Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru has kept up engagement with the region since taking office in October, with visits to Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and has used the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo to get more face time, including with his counterparts from Laos and Cambodia. Cambodia is closely aligned with China, but Prime Minister Hun Manet has looked to Japan and others to widen the country's diplomatic circle. Japanese warships were the first to visit Cambodia's Ream Naval Base when it reopened after a controversial Chinese-funded renovation project, and Cambodia recently welcomed the return of a Japanese defense attaché. After meeting at the Expo on May 30, Ishiba and Hun said that they wanted 'to further advance' security ties and expected 'smoother bilateral defense cooperation,' including 'consideration' of future OSA projects. Such meetings were 'a good opportunity,' Ishiba reportedly said in May. 'We can convey Japan's importance to countries sandwiched between the United States and China.' 'A Very Important Partner' In late May, Fiji became the first country to receive new equipment funded through OSA when Japan handed over an underwater camera unit, a rescue boat, and a water rescue training doll covered by a grant awarded in December 2023. A Japanese official told The Japan Times in January that the slow pace of delivery was mainly due to the time needed to negotiate, implement tenders and contracts, and build new hardware. Even with momentum behind OSA, there still appear to be limits on its scope and scale. The program adheres to Japan's 'Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology,' and while those rules have been eased, Tokyo still restricts transfers of lethal weapons. 'They've loosened export constraints, but there are still normative issues, and I'm assuming some legal issues, around what they can send out,' Ward said at the Shangri-La Dialogue. The OSA budget also limits the value and sophistication of what can be provided – the roughly $104 million allotted so far is only about one-quarter the cost of one of Japan's Mogami-class frigates – and Japan's economic outlook may affect what it's willing to hand over in the future. Japan is also sensitive to how its military activity is perceived abroad, and its leaders 'try to treat the security-related issues, or military-defense kind of issues, very, very carefully,' Kiba, of Kobe City University, said in March. Kiba cited surveys showing Southeast Asian elites generally support Japan's overseas security activity but that opinions differed among general publics, indicating that Tokyo should tailor its messaging to each country. China, for its part, has criticized Japan's OSA as the 'militarization and weaponization' of foreign aid meant to increase Tokyo's influence and help the U.S. contain China. But countries that are wary of Beijing's influence and worried by shrinking assistance from Washington are likely to welcome more Japanese support. 'Japan is a very important partner for Papua New Guinea, and I would like to say that we do have a lot of trade and relationship with them. Most of the infrastructures in the country have been built by Japan,' Billy Joseph, Papua New Guinea's defense minister, said at the Shangri-La Dialogue on June 1. 'Japan is working with our defense to build capacity, and there are many different levels we are working with that.'
Nahar Net
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Expert says Israel can still target Hezbollah 'no matter how weak'
by Naharnet Newsdesk 17 June 2025, 15:01 Iran has few viable options for striking back at Israel, largely because its key regional proxy Hezbollah has been "decapitated," according to Fabian Hinz of the International Institute of Strategic Studies, a London-based think tank focusing on defense and security issues. The Houthi rebels in Yemen, another of Iran's allies, depend on long-range Iranian missiles but supplies are limited, Hinz said. If Iran chose to strike using short-range missiles, he speculates it could transfer them to Shiite militants in Iraq, which are nearer to Israel. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal brought an end to the latest Israel-Hezbollah war in November. The Lebanese militant group — which lost much of its senior leadership and arsenal in the conflict — has remained largely quiet since then and has given no indication that it intends to join the fray between Israel and Iran. Israeli forces have continued to occupy several border points in southern Lebanon and to carry out regular airstrikes on what Israel says are Hezbollah facilities since the ceasefire. Caroline Rose, a director at the Washington-based New Lines Institute think tank said that while it seems "clear that Iran-backed proxies across the region — particularly Hezbollah—just do not have the capacity" to enter the fray, Israel could decide to expand the scope of its offensive beyond Iran. One of the goals announced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to eliminate Iran's "axis of terrorism" — the coalition of Tehran-backed armed groups across the region known as the "Axis of Resistance." That goal "is ambiguous and offers Israel the operational space to expand this war to countries it deems are hosting Iran-backed proxies, no matter how weak they may be," Rose said.
The Mainichi
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear program are sweeping but can they decimate it?
Israel's sweeping attack across Iran struck at the heart of Tehran's nuclear program, delivering a blow to the country's ability to enrich uranium and potentially setting its nuclear ambitions back by months or years. As well as killing key military figures and nuclear scientists, the Israeli strikes destroyed part of a plant that was enriching uranium to levels far beyond the requirements for nuclear-fueled power stations. The attacks also destroyed backup power for the underground section of the plant, potentially damaging more sensitive equipment. Iran's nuclear program has progressed rapidly since 2018, when the U.S. withdrew from a deal to limit Tehran's capacity to enrich uranium, which is necessary to build a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its program is peaceful, but the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that the country has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs if it chose to do so. Nuclear regulators said the assault was unlikely to lead to increased levels of radiation, even at the site where part of the fuel-enrichment plant was destroyed. Here's a closer look at the attack and its likely effects on Iran's nuclear efforts. What impact will the attacks have on Iran's nuclear program? There is "no question" Israel's attacks did substantial damage, said Fabian Hinz, an expert on Iran's nuclear program at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London. David Albright, a nuclear weapons expert, speculated that the initial wave of attacks could set back any Iranian attempt to develop a nuclear weapon by about a year. A key question, Hinz said, is whether Israel also targeted suppliers of specialist components such as centrifuges and subcontractors. Israel's strategy appears to be to "destroy the brains" behind the program and "as much equipment as possible," said Albright, who agreed that Israel has potentially done a "tremendous amount of damage" to the program. Israel is widely believed to be behind a series of attacks in recent years that targeted Iranian nuclear scientists and sabotaged nuclear facilities. What damage was done to Iran's nuclear facilities? Hinz suggested a key Israeli goal was to undermine Iran's ability to make centrifuges, which are critical for enriching uranium. Uranium enrichment is a key component of building a nuclear weapon, but Iran would still need to develop a detonator. Delivering it using a missile would require solving further technical challenges. Iran has two uranium-enrichment sites, and the country said Wednesday that it has built and will activate a third enrichment facility. Early Friday, Israel struck Iran's main and oldest facility in Natanz, 220 kilometers (135 miles) southeast of Tehran, which was protected by anti-aircraft batteries, fencing and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The IAEA's chief, Rafael Grossi, told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Friday that the above-ground part of the plant where uranium was enriched up to 60% was destroyed, along with electrical infrastructure, including a substation, the main electric power supply building, the emergency power supply and backup generators. Grossi said there were no changes to radiation levels following the attack or any indication of damage to the underground section of the plant. That part of the facility is buried to protect it from airstrikes and contains the bulk of Natanz's enrichment facilities, with 10,000 centrifuges that enrich uranium up to 5%, Albright said. However, Grossi said, the loss of power may have damaged centrifuges. There is a good chance the strikes still caused "massive damage," Hinz said because many of the centrifuges were probably operating at the time of the strike. Centrifuges, Albright said, "don't like vibration," and the shock waves or loss of power could break delicate parts when they are rotating at high speed. What about the Fordo nuclear site? Most of Iran's centrifuges are in Natanz, the experts said, because a lot of them are required to enrich uranium to 5% -- which is the maximum level normally used for nuclear-fueled power stations. But, buried under a huge mountain at Fordo, around 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Tehran, is another nuclear facility where Iran is also enriching uranium to 60%, which is only a short step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. According to the IAEA, Tehran has the largest number of its most powerful centrifuges at Fordo. An Iranian news outlet close to the government reported Friday that two explosions were heard near the Fordo site. But, while Israel could potentially hit the entrance to Fordo and temporarily block access, it is not believed to have the type of earth-penetrating bombs required to blow up the mountain and crack open the nuclear facility inside, Hinz said. That capacity lies with the U.S., which has developed a massive bomb that can be dropped only from large aircraft that Israel does not have in service, he said. The potential for more strikes loomed large. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the attacks will continue "for as many days at it takes to remove this threat." Hinz said the attacks showed Israeli intelligence had "absolutely exceptional" knowledge of Iran's nuclear program and the ability to strike at key targets "with precision." That could mean Israel could sabotage the plant, rather than trying to blast the mountain open. Albright suggested Israel could try to cut off electricity to Fordo, which could lead to centrifuges breaking. Is there risk from radiation? Although Grossi said part of the enrichment facility at Natanz was destroyed, he noted that radiation levels had not spiked. Even if radiation did leak, experts said, the amount would be unlikely to pose a risk to people in the region or even those near the facilities that got hit. "Very little uranium will be released in these kind of attacks," Albright said. Uranium itself is not especially toxic, he said, and is common in parts of the environment. A person standing near an enrichment facility with a leak would probably be exposed to no more radiation than someone who took several transatlantic flights, which receive slightly higher radiation because radiation doses are larger at high altitudes, he said. In order to become sick, someone would have to ingest large quantities of uranium, Albright said, pointing out that the element can be found naturally in seawater and the earth's crust. Rather than radiation, the greater risk might be from fluorine, which is used to enrich uranium and could have been deadly to those nearby if released during an attack. Fluorine is mixed with the uranium during enrichment to turn it into a gas called uranium hexafluoride. It is extremely volatile, will quickly corrode and can burn the skin. It is especially deadly if inhaled. (AP)
Chicago Tribune
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear program are sweeping but can they decimate it?
Israel's sweeping attack across Iran struck at the heart of Tehran's nuclear program, delivering a blow to the country's ability to enrich uranium and potentially setting its nuclear ambitions back by months or years. As well as killing key military figures and nuclear scientists, the Israeli strikes destroyed part of a plant that was enriching uranium to levels far beyond the requirements for nuclear-fueled power stations. The attacks also destroyed backup power for the underground section of the plant, potentially damaging more sensitive equipment. Iran's nuclear program has progressed rapidly since 2018, when the U.S. withdrew from a deal to limit Tehran's capacity to enrich uranium, which is necessary to build a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its program is peaceful, but the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that the country has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs if it chose to do so. Nuclear regulators said the assault was unlikely to lead to increased levels of radiation, even at the site where part of the fuel-enrichment plant was destroyed. Here's a closer look at the attack and its likely effects on Iran's nuclear efforts. There is 'no question' Israel's attacks did substantial damage, said Fabian Hinz, an expert on Iran's nuclear program at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London. David Albright, a nuclear weapons expert, speculated that the initial wave of attacks could set back any Iranian attempt to develop a nuclear weapon by about a year. A key question, Hinz said, is whether Israel also targeted suppliers of specialist components such as centrifuges and subcontractors. Israel's strategy appears to be to 'destroy the brains' behind the program and 'as much equipment as possible,' said Albright, who agreed that Israel has potentially done a 'tremendous amount of damage' to the program. Israel is widely believed to be behind a series of attacks in recent years that targeted Iranian nuclear scientists and sabotaged nuclear facilities. Hinz suggested a key Israeli goal was to undermine Iran's ability to make centrifuges, which are critical for enriching uranium. Uranium enrichment is a key component of building a nuclear weapon, but Iran would still need to develop a detonator. Delivering it using a missile would require solving further technical challenges. Iran has two uranium-enrichment sites, and the country said Wednesday that it has built and will activate a third enrichment facility. Early Friday, Israel struck Iran's main and oldest facility in Natanz, 220 kilometers (135 miles) southeast of Tehran, which was protected by anti-aircraft batteries, fencing and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The IAEA's chief, Rafael Grossi, told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Friday that the above-ground part of the plant where uranium was enriched up to 60% was destroyed, along with electrical infrastructure, including a substation, the main electric power supply building, the emergency power supply and backup generators. Grossi said there were no changes to radiation levels following the attack or any indication of damage to the underground section of the plant. That part of the facility is buried to protect it from airstrikes and contains the bulk of Natanz's enrichment facilities, with 10,000 centrifuges that enrich uranium up to 5%, Albright said. However, Grossi said, the loss of power may have damaged centrifuges. There is a good chance the strikes still caused 'massive damage,' Hinz said because many of the centrifuges were probably operating at the time of the strike. Centrifuges, Albright said, 'don't like vibration,' and the shock waves or loss of power could break delicate parts when they are rotating at high speed. Most of Iran's centrifuges are in Natanz, the experts said, because a lot of them are required to enrich uranium to 5% — which is the maximum level normally used for nuclear-fueled power stations. But, buried under a huge mountain at Fordo, around 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Tehran, is another nuclear facility where Iran is also enriching uranium to 60%, which is only a short step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. According to the IAEA, Tehran has the largest number of its most powerful centrifuges at Fordo. An Iranian news outlet close to the government reported Friday that two explosions were heard near the Fordo site. But, while Israel could potentially hit the entrance to Fordo and temporarily block access, it is not believed to have the type of earth-penetrating bombs required to blow up the mountain and crack open the nuclear facility inside, Hinz said. That capacity lies with the U.S., which has developed a massive bomb that can be dropped only from large aircraft that Israel does not have in service, he said. The potential for more strikes loomed large. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the attacks will continue 'for as many days at it takes to remove this threat.' Hinz said the attacks showed Israeli intelligence had 'absolutely exceptional' knowledge of Iran's nuclear program and the ability to strike at key targets 'with precision.' That could mean Israel could sabotage the plant, rather than trying to blast the mountain open. Albright suggested Israel could try to cut off electricity to Fordo, which could lead to centrifuges breaking. Although Grossi said part of the enrichment facility at Natanz was destroyed, he noted that radiation levels had not spiked. Even if radiation did leak, experts said, the amount would be unlikely to pose a risk to people in the region or even those near the facilities that got hit. 'Very little uranium will be released in these kind of attacks,' Albright said. Uranium itself is not especially toxic, he said, and is common in parts of the environment. A person standing near an enrichment facility with a leak would probably be exposed to no more radiation than someone who took several transatlantic flights, which receive slightly higher radiation because radiation doses are larger at high altitudes, he said. In order to become sick, someone would have to ingest large quantities of uranium, Albright said, pointing out that the element can be found naturally in seawater and the earth's crust. Rather than radiation, the greater risk might be from fluorine, which is used to enrich uranium and could have been deadly to those nearby if released during an attack. Fluorine is mixed with the uranium during enrichment to turn it into a gas called uranium hexafluoride. It is extremely volatile, will quickly corrode and can burn the skin. It is especially deadly if inhaled.
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
How Israeli airstrikes landed a heavy blow on Iran's nuclear ambitions
Israel's sweeping attack across Iran struck at the heart of Tehran's nuclear program, delivering a blow to the country's ability to enrich uranium and potentially setting its nuclear ambitions back by months or years. As well as killing key military figures and nuclear scientists, the Israeli strikes destroyed part of a plant that was enriching uranium to levels far beyond the requirements for nuclear-fueled power stations. The attacks also destroyed backup power for the underground section of the plant, potentially damaging more sensitive equipment. Iran's nuclear program has progressed rapidly since 2018, when the U.S. withdrew from a deal to limit Tehran's capacity to enrich uranium, which is necessary to build a nuclear weapon. Iran maintains that its program is peaceful, but the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned that the country has enough enriched uranium to make several nuclear bombs if it chose to do so. Nuclear regulators said the assault was unlikely to lead to increased levels of radiation, even at the site where part of the fuel-enrichment plant was destroyed. Here's a closer look at the attack and its likely effects on Iran's nuclear efforts. Israel killed top military figures and nuclear scientists and destroyed part of a key enrichment site. There is 'no question' it did substantial damage, said Fabian Hinz, an expert on Iran's nuclear program at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London. David Albright, a nuclear weapons expert, speculated that the initial wave of attacks could set back any Iranian attempt to develop a nuclear weapon by about a year. A key question, Hinz said, is whether Israel also targeted suppliers of specialist components such as centrifuges and subcontractors. Israel's strategy appears to be to 'destroy the brains' behind the program and 'as much equipment as possible,' said Albright, who agreed that Israel has potentially done a 'tremendous amount of damage' to the program. Israel is widely believed to be behind a series of attacks in recent years that targeted Iranian nuclear scientists and sabotaged nuclear facilities. Hinz suggested a key Israeli goal was to undermine Iran's ability to make centrifuges, which are critical for enriching uranium. Uranium enrichment is a key component of building a nuclear weapon, but weapons also require detonators and a means of delivery, like missiles. Iran has two uranium-enrichment sites, and the country said Wednesday that it has built and will activate a third enrichment facility. On Thursday, Israel struck Iran's main and oldest facility in Natanz, 220 kilometers (135 miles) southeast of Tehran, which was protected by anti-aircraft batteries, fencing and Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The IAEA's chief, Rafael Grossi, told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Friday that the above-ground part of the plant where uranium was enriched up to 60% was destroyed, along with electrical infrastructure, including a substation, the main electric power supply building, the emergency power supply and backup generators. Grossi said there were no changes to radiation levels following the attack or any indication of damage to the underground section of the plant. That part of the facility is buried to protect it from airstrikes and contains the bulk of Natanz's enrichment facilities, with 10,000 centrifuges that enrich uranium up to 5%, Albright said. However, Grossi said, the loss of power may have damaged centrifuges. There is a good chance the strikes still caused 'massive damage," Hinz said because many of the centrifuges were probably operating at the time of the strike. Centrifuges, Albright said, 'don't like vibration," and the shock waves or loss of power could break delicate parts when they are rotating at high speed. Most of Iran's centrifuges are in Natanz, the experts said, because a lot of them are required to enrich uranium to 5% — which is the maximum level normally used for nuclear-fueled power stations. But, buried under a huge mountain at Fordo, around 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Tehran, is another nuclear facility where Iran is also enriching uranium to 60%, which is only a short step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. According to the IAEA, Tehran has the largest number of its most powerful centrifuges at Fordo. An Iranian news outlet close to the government reported Friday that two explosions were heard near the Fordo site. But, while Israel could potentially hit the entrance to Fordo and temporarily block access, it is not believed to have the type of earth-penetrating bombs required to blow up the mountain and crack open the nuclear facility inside, Hinz said. That capacity lies with the U.S., which has developed a massive bomb that can be dropped only from large aircraft that Israel does not have in service, he said. The potential for more strikes loomed large. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the attacks will continue 'for as many days at it takes to remove this threat.' Hinz said the attacks showed Israeli intelligence had 'absolutely exceptional' knowledge of Iran's nuclear program and the ability to strike at key targets 'with precision.' That could mean Israel could sabotage the plant, rather than trying to blast the mountain open. Albright suggested Israel could try to cut off electricity to Fordo, which could lead to centrifuges breaking. Although Grossi said part of the enrichment facility at Natanz was destroyed, he noted that radiation levels had not spiked. Even if radiation did leak, experts said, the amount would be unlikely to pose a risk to people in the region or even those near the facilities that got hit. 'Very little uranium will be released in these kind of attacks,' Albright said. Uranium itself is not especially toxic, he said, and is common in parts of the environment. A person standing near an enrichment facility with a leak would probably be exposed to no more radiation than someone who took several transatlantic flights, which receive slightly higher radiation because radiation doses are larger at high altitudes, he said. In order to become sick, someone would have to ingest large quantities of uranium, Albright said, pointing out that the element can be found naturally in seawater and the earth's crust. Rather than radiation, the greater risk might be from fluorine, which is used to enrich uranium and could have been deadly to those nearby if released during an attack. Fluorine is mixed with the uranium during enrichment to turn it into a gas called uranium hexafluoride. It is extremely volatile, will quickly corrode and can burn the skin. It is especially deadly if inhaled.
