On December 16, 2024, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an airstrike on a weapons depot in Tartus, Syria, targeting a Scud missile facility within. The explosion was colossal, sending a fiery cloud mushrooming into the sky for miles.
Watch the devastating explosion video below.
This explosion was followed by a 3.0 magnitude earthquake felt as far as Igneada, Turkey, 820 kilometers away. Russian media outlet Sputnik reported that Israel possibly used a new missile from a warship for the strike. However, some speculate the involvement of the U.S.-developed B61 nuclear bomb, known for its relatively low yield.
Recently, the European Union's Radioactive Environmental Monitoring detected elevated radiation levels in Cyprus and southern Turkey about 20 hours after the blast, attributed to winds blowing west from Tartus carrying radioactive particles.
Source: aajtak
Does Israel Possess Nuclear Weapons?
Israel is among the nine nuclear-armed nations globally. The exact number of nuclear weapons it holds remains undisclosed but is estimated between 90 and 400. Israel has the capability to launch these nuclear weapons from its fighter jets, Dolphin-class submarines equipped with cruise missiles, or Jericho series missiles targeting any location.
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied possessing nuclear arms, consistently maintaining a doctrine of no-first-use. Official figures of Israel's nuclear arsenal aren't available, but reports from 1991 suggested numbers ranging from 50 to 200, now believed to be around 300 or more, with potential targets including Tehran.
Source: aajtak
From Suitcase Nukes to Large-Scale Arsenal...
Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh once reported that by 1973, Israel had developed a suitcase nuclear bomb, compact enough to be transported in a briefcase. Though this claim remains unconfirmed, Israel reportedly possesses self-propelled artillery nuclear shells ranging from 175 mm to 203 mm in diameter, capable of striking targets 40 to 72 km away with tactical range.
Additionally, Israel might engage in attacks using nuclear electromagnetic pulses, possessing the expertise for such strikes. It is also alleged that Israel has numerous neutron bombs, which have high radiation impact over extensive ranges, and has developed nuclear land mines.
