Israel’s demilitarization of Syria continued with one of its biggest strikes yet, triggering an explosion that registered on the Richter scale.
On Sunday, Israel launched the “most violent round ever” of airstrikes in Syria since the first in 2012, with jets launching 18 strikes against targets along the coastline, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. Some of these targeted a warehouse stockpile of ground-to-ground missiles, setting off a colossal explosion that registered as a 3.0 earthquake on the Richter scale, according to data from the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.
The “earthquake” was reported at Tartus at 12:48 a.m. local time on Monday, roughly the same time that the explosion was first reported. No casualties were reported.
Videos posted on social media showed a massive mushroom cloud rising above the skyline.
Israel launched a massive air campaign against Syria beginning on Dec. 8, following the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government. The strikes are aiming to destroy former Syrian military assets before they fall into the hands of jihadist rebels, including chemical weapons stockpiles, aircraft, air defense batteries, missile stockpiles, command and control centers, naval vessels, and more.
In the first few days of the strikes, the Israeli air force completely destroyed the Syrian air force and navy. Israel has followed that up with strikes all across Syria with impunity. The new government has signaled its unwillingness to fight back, focusing its ire on Iran instead.
According to the SOHR, Israel has launched 473 airstrikes against Syria since Dec. 8. The attacks have come in conjunction with a ground incursion, aimed at expanding a buffer zone into Syria. No casualties have been reported as a result of the airstrikes or ground incursion.
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The de facto head of Syria, Abu Mohammad al-Julani, has said he does not want a war with Israel and that the international community should pressure its forces to withdraw.
“Israel’s excuses for entering Syria no longer exist,” he said. “After the Iranians’ departure, there are no more justifications for any foreign intervention in Syria. The exhausted Syrian situation after years of war and conflicts does not allow for entering into any new conflicts.”