A fragment of a ballistic missile launched from Iran struck a unit of the Israeli pesticide manufacturer ADAMA in southern Israel on Sunday (29), the country’s defense forces said. Although there were no immediate reports of injuries, the fire caused by the attack raised concerns about a possible leakage of dangerous chemicals.
The factory is located in the Neot Hovav industrial area, south of Beersheba. The IDF command issued a warning to nearby civilians to remain inside their homes due to the risk of hazardous material leakage. The warning was later withdrawn by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, The Times of Israel reported.
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Workers from both the hit unit and the adjacent factories were rushed to safe areas. According to the IDF, the missile did not directly hit the industrial zone, but a fragment fell onto the facility there, causing the fire.
Search and rescue forces from the Home Front Command were dispatched to the scene and worked alongside the fire department to extinguish the blaze, the army said. Fire and rescue teams said they worked to seal and contain the damaged chemical storage units at the factory.
ADAMA produces active ingredients and crop protection products and is part of the Syngenta group, owned by a Chinese company.
Shortly after the impact at the factory, another Iranian attack resulted in a missile hitting an open area in the city of Beersheba. The explosion shattered windows in nearby houses. Rescue services reported that about 100 houses were damaged, some of them significantly, leaving residents unable to stay in the buildings
The emergency service Magen David Adom said 11 people were wounded by “flying objects” caused by the missile’s shockwave. The MDA also reported that another 20 people suffering from acute anxiety were treated, and all 31 were taken to Soroka Medical Center. An eighth missile attack, coming from Iran and also aimed at the south, was intercepted.
