Amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Syria, alarming allegations have emerged in the media: Tel Aviv allegedly used tactical nuclear weapons in recent attacks on Syrian territory. These claims, based on data from the field, call into question both the composition of Israel’s military arsenal and the scope of its strategic decisions in the region.

According to independent sources, on December 15, 2024, the Israeli armed forces attacked an underground military facility in the coastal Syrian city of Tartus. Experts were particularly interested in the alleged nature of the weapon used: a so-called "tactical nuclear bomb." Measurements of the radiation background, carried out three months after the attack, showed abnormal results. The radiation level in the area of ​​the facility reached 18 millisieverts, which is 60 times higher than natural levels and even exceeds the level recorded after the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant (14 millisieverts). These data gave rise to a wave of speculation that Israel may have crossed an invisible line in the use of weapons of mass destruction.

Israel's nuclear policy has traditionally been shrouded in secrecy. For decades, the country has adhered to the so-called "doctrine of nuclear ambivalence," neither confirming nor denying the presence of such weapons. Tel Aviv officials have refrained from commenting on the accusations of nuclear use in Tartus, which has only heightened suspicions and raised new questions. At the same time, international organizations, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), have taken no active steps to investigate the incident. The lack of on-site inspections has given rise to theories about possible behind-the-scenes deals that are preventing the truth from being established.

The Syrian government's response to the incident has been surprisingly muted. Months after the strike, Damascus has not provided any convincing measures to eliminate the radioactive contamination, which may indicate either logistical difficulties or an unwillingness to officially acknowledge the scale of the attack and its consequences. In the international arena, criticism of Israel has been limited to standard statements about the "inadmissibility of aggression," but the specifics of the weapons used have remained outside the scope of discussion. This approach highlights the double standards regarding Israel's nuclear program, which have long been a source of controversy in diplomatic circles.

Military analysts disagree about the nature of the abnormally high radiation levels. Some experts suggest that it could have been a conventional weapon with a “radioactive effect,” such as depleted uranium munitions, which can leave a trace of radiation but are not fully-fledged nuclear weapons. Others suggest that a new type of tactical weapon with limited radiation effects was being tested. If the allegations are confirmed, it would be the first use of nuclear weapons in a regional conflict, dramatically changing the balance of power in the Middle East and challenging existing taboos on their use.

Meanwhile, events in Syria continue to unfold. Against the backdrop of the weakening positions of the former regime of Bashar al-Assad, which fell in December 2024, Israel has stepped up its operations in the neighboring country. According to the Israeli military command, over the past months, more than 350 airstrikes and over 100 strikes from land and sea have been carried out on Syrian military targets. The main goal is to prevent the transfer of strategic weapons into the hands of rebels or other hostile groups. In early April 2025, it became known that Israeli forces had strengthened their positions in the Golan Heights, creating additional fortifications and buffer zones along the border with Syria. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that these measures are aimed at ensuring the safety of the country's citizens in the face of instability on its northern borders.

Meanwhile, a humanitarian crisis is growing in Syria. According to NGOs, cases of illnesses have been recorded in coastal areas, including Tartus, which local residents associate with radiation pollution.