Israel announces leak of hazardous materials due to Iranian missile targeting chemical plant

SadaNews - Israeli media reported that an Iranian missile targeted a chemical plant near the city of Be'er Sheva in southern Israel on Sunday afternoon, confirming that the facility contains hazardous materials, and that the attack resulted in a leak of hazardous materials from within the factory.

The agency added that Israeli authorities imposed a strict security cordon around the targeted plant and decided to evacuate the area of residents as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, Israeli emergency services announced at least one injury as a result of the Iranian bombardment, without revealing additional details regarding the nature of the injuries or their severity.

For its part, the Israeli Civil Defense warned against approaching the vicinity of the targeted chemical plant, urging residents to adhere to safety instructions.

The Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection announced that it had dispatched specialized teams to the site of the incident to assess potential damages and provide necessary assistance.

Hebrew Channel 12 reported that Israeli firefighting teams continue their efforts to control blazes that broke out inside the chemical plant in Be'er Sheva following a direct hit.

The Israeli Fire and Rescue Authority stated that its teams are working to close tanks inside the damaged plant while monitoring air quality levels in the surrounding areas.

The agency added that it is dealing with the leak of hazardous materials from the facility as a result of the attack, indicating that it may take several hours to completely contain the fire.

Sensitive Area

The mentioned factory is located in the "Neot Hovav" industrial area in the Negev desert, southern Israel, about 10 to 15 kilometers southeast of Be'er Sheva, in a sensitive area that contains several chemical and industrial facilities.

For its part, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced via Iranian television that the new wave of missile strikes targeted an Israeli military industry complex in Be'er Sheva.

The Iranian television added that "the Iranian armed forces responded firmly to America and Israel after their targeting of industrial infrastructure."

Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that Iran fired three waves of missiles in less than half an hour, targeting southern Israel, including Dimona and Be'er Sheva, as well as areas in Greater Tel Aviv.

For its part, the Israeli Home Front said that sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and wide areas of central Israel, coinciding with the detection of missile launches from Iran toward those areas, and also announced the sounding of sirens in Be'er Sheva, Dimona, and wide areas of southern Israel.

This targeting of the Israeli factory by Iranian missiles comes two days after extensive Israeli attacks on several sensitive factories and facilities in Iran. Israel targeted, on Thursday and Friday, major facilities for iron and steel production in Iran, as well as other industrial sites, which Tehran considered a serious escalation, stating that it would move the war to a new phase.