] Severe destruction of the Al-tuwaitha site took place
] during the bombing compaign in 1991 within the desert
] storm operation. Destroyed were the Tammuz-2 mini
] reactor, the cooling tower, the LAMMA, and the waste
] treatment facility. Destroyed also was the Russian
] reactor, where the reactor pool can be seen in open air.
] Chernobyl-like severe radioactive contamination all over
] the region including excessive radioactive exposure of
] the public could result if the highly radioactive reactor
] fuel were hit during the bombing. Complete damage is
] evident. The state of the empty site after 10 years of
] sanctions and embargo with ruins everywhere resembles
] that of Chernobyl site in Ukraine.

With the recent reports of the looting of material from Tuwaitha, this could mean that this area is now one of the biggest radioactive disasters in the history of mankind, up there on the list with Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. Reports are still coming in and being confirmed about the extent of the contamination, but the potential is huge.