• Source:JND

Several speculations have been made on social media after a powerful blast took place near the Jerusalem-area city of Beit Shemesh on Saturday night. The blaze took place at a testing ground linked to the state-owned Tomer defence company, which develops engines for Israeli rocket and missile systems, including Arrow interceptor missiles.

While the Israeli authorities maintained that the blast was a pre-planned experiment carried out as per the schedule, ex-Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst Larry Johnson claimed that the scale and timing of the explosive do not align with the standard routine controlled test.

ALSO READ: LPG Tanker Symi, With 20,000 Tonne Fuel Arrives At Gujarat’s Kandla Port After Crossing Hormuz

'All Scenarios Point To War'

In an interview with Mario Nawfal on X, he said that the scale, timing, and restrictions placed on the emergency responders put the entire incident under scrutiny. Johnson said, “Emergency services, the emergency response was blocked from going to the area. So if it was an accident that involved injuries, accidents generally involve injuries."

Johnson shifted focus on the point that why would someone conduct a test at night without giving prior warnings to emergency services or local residents? “Nobody does a controlled blast at 12:30 a.m. without telling first responders," he said.

The ex-CIA analyst claimed that all the factors conclude that the explosion was linked to the ongoing war. “All scenarios point to war being imminent, and that’s not a good sign at all," he added.

Hebrew Media Reports Different Story

Hebrew media said the blaze may have involved Sdot Micha Airbase, a sensitive Israeli missile facility near the area. According to reports, the blast may have destroyed part of a stockpile linked to the Arrow-3 missile defence system.

Claims also included that a sodium perchlorate storage area reportedly used in producing rocket motors for surface-to-air missile systems. Reports suggested the material may have caught fire due to mishandling.

If these speculations are true, the damage could affect one of Israel’s two Arrow-3 missile batteries. The Arrow-3 system is claimed to be Israel’s top-tier exoatmospheric missile defence platform.

ALSO READ: What Is ‘Operation Sledgehammer'? Trump Issues Fresh Threat Against Iran

The visuals make the speculations more rigid. Visuals show a huge fireball and a towering mushroom cloud visible from miles away. Some eyewitnesses reportedly initially feared it resembled a tactical weapons explosion because of its scale.

Johnson stated that the incident holds heavy similarities with the 2021 mushroom-cloud episode, further intensifying tensions. He argued that the timing – during the Sabbath, when work is generally limited in Israel unless urgent military activity is involved – added to the speculation.

Despite multiple speculations, the Israeli authorities maintained that the explosion was a part of its pre-planned experiment, without any external involvement. Officials said there were no reported casualties and no security breach linked to the incident.

You May Also Like To Watch: 

 


Also In News