TARTUS: A Syrian ammunition complex near the coastal city of Tartus erupted into chaos on Monday after a series of powerful Israeli airstrikes, leaving it engulfed in flames and rocked by relentless explosions. Even hours after the strikes ceased, sporadic blasts continued to shatter the valley near the Christian village of Bmalkah, where plumes of smoke spiraled from the wreckage.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described the attack as “the heaviest strikes on Syria’s coastal region since 2012”, with Israel reportedly targeting strategic weapons caches and air defense installations. The base, carved into the hillside with concrete bunkers, was left littered with shrapnel, destroyed munitions, and smoke rising like ghosts from its terraced slopes.
“It felt like an earthquake. My windows exploded,” said Ibrahim Ahmed, a local resident, as he surveyed the destruction.
The strikes come in the aftermath of a seismic shift in Syria, with Bashar al-Assad’s regime collapsing following a swift Ankara-backed rebel offensive. Israel has intensified efforts to neutralize stockpiles of weapons, fearing they could fall into the hands of the country’s new leadership.
Meanwhile, Turkey has positioned itself as a key player. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump characterized Assad’s overthrow as an “unfriendly takeover” orchestrated by Turkey, calling it a strategic move with minimal bloodshed. Trump acknowledged Assad’s brutal legacy, stating, “Assad was a butcher, especially to children.” Turkey has pledged military support for the new rebel-led government and remains focused on eliminating Kurdish separatist forces from Syrian soil—a goal it shares with the fledgling regime.
Across Europe, discussions intensify over Syria’s future. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized that Russia and Iran, Assad’s former backers, “have no place in Syria’s future.” Russian bases in Syria—vital for Moscow’s regional influence—are now under scrutiny, as European leaders voice concern over their impact on broader security.
The EU cautiously opened dialogue with the new authorities, spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a group with roots in Al Qaeda. Though listed as a terrorist organization, HTS now faces conditions from Western powers: forming an inclusive government, safeguarding minority and women’s rights, and breaking ties with extremism.
While sanctions have crippled Syria’s economy, the EU hinted at lifting punitive measures if tangible reforms follow. “We need actions, not just words,” Kallas stressed, signaling the bloc’s readiness to support Syria’s new direction—once proven credible.
In a nation shattered by war, the strikes on Tartus symbolize both lingering conflict and the shifting sands of power, as Syria grapples with its turbulent rebirth.
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