Explosion Rocks Syria’s Tartus as Israel Confirms Airstrike on Qardaha Military Site
By Kardo Roj
TARTUS, Syria (North Press) – A powerful explosion rattled the Syrian coastal city of Tartus on Monday, amid reports of an Israeli airstrike on a military installation in Qardaha, Latakia.
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced on Telegram that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had carried out an air raid on a military facility previously used to store weapons. “Due to recent developments in the region, it was decided to strike infrastructure within the site,” Adraee stated.
The Syrian state newspaper Al-Watan reported that thick smoke was seen rising near the Balata Gharbiya Bridge, suggesting that a military position along the Tartus-Baniyas highway might have been targeted.
The strike follows a series of escalations in the region, with increasing Israeli operations against military targets linked to Damascus and its allies. Israeli forces have repeatedly targeted sites associated with Iranian-backed groups and Syrian government forces, citing threats to its national security.
In response to the attack, Syrian air defenses were reportedly activated, though no details on casualties or damage have been confirmed by Damascus.
Qardaha, located in the Latakia countryside, is a highly sensitive area, historically known as the hometown of Syria’s previous ruling Assad family. Israeli airstrikes in this region are rare but indicate a possible shift in targeting strategies.
Tartus, used to be home to a Russian naval base, has also been hit in the past, though Moscow has largely refrained from direct involvement in Israeli-Syrian military confrontations.
Local sources reported chaotic scenes in Tartus following the explosion, with security forces deployed around key locations. The extent of the damage remains unclear, and Syrian officials have yet to release an official statement on the strike.
Israel has ramped up its air campaign in Syria in recent months, targeting what it claims are military sites used by Tehran-backed militias. Meanwhile, the region remains on edge as conflicts continue to unfold across multiple fronts.