On Thursday night, Israeli airstrikes targeted Syrian army positions and defense facilities south of Aleppo, marking the latest in a series of Israeli military actions following the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The strikes caused significant explosions and reportedly targeted defense factories and a scientific research center in the Al-Safira area, according to multiple sources including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and local residents.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor, reported that at least seven large explosions were heard during the assault, describing the strikes as extremely powerful. Residents in Al-Safira corroborated these accounts, with one individual telling AFP that the strikes were the strongest they had ever experienced, shaking the ground and illuminating the night sky. The strikes caused seismic readers to register a 2.5 magnitude earthquake in the area. The targeted locations included defense factories and a scientific research center associated with Syria’s military operations under the former Assad regime.
BREAKING🚨
A large scale Zionist airstrike in Aleppo causes a 2.5 magnitude earthquake.
The strikes were carried out on factories and research Centers. pic.twitter.com/RKpNaE6Qvp
— Palestinian🔻🇵🇸 (@Revenge_is_near) January 3, 2025
Heavy Israeli Airstrikes within the last few minutes, against the Syrian Defense Industries Complex to the East of Aleppo. pic.twitter.com/mU0S5LUnJs
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) January 2, 2025
Syrian state television also acknowledged the attack but did not provide specific details. Other reports, such as those from the local news outlet al-Watan Online and Xinhua, highlighted that significant damage was inflicted on key facilities in the region, including research sites critical to military development.
Since the collapse of the Assad government in early December 2024, Israel has conducted numerous airstrikes, reportedly aiming to prevent advanced weaponry from falling into the hands of hostile groups. The SOHR has documented 498 such strikes on Syrian territory since the regime change.
As of now, there have been no confirmed reports of casualties from the attack. However, the intensity of the explosions and the strategic nature of the targeted locations suggest that the strike caused substantial material damage. Syrian authorities and international observers have yet to provide a comprehensive assessment of the aftermath.
