Negev: A worker at a chemical plant in Negev, southern Israel, was slightly injured on Sunday after inhaling smoke when an Iranian rocket struck nearby, igniting a fire. Firefighters and emergency crews were deployed to the Neot Hovav industrial area to contain the blaze and search for casualties.

According to Anadolu Agency, the fire raised concerns of a potential hazardous materials incident, but no leak was confirmed. Monitoring continued as a precaution, the outlet reported. Shashi Shlomo, a Negev police official, stated that authorities “closed the road to prevent people from entering the industrial area.”

The incident comes in the wake of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. The US and Israel launched an air offensive on Iran on February 28, resulting in over 1,340 fatalities, including the then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran has conducted drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. These retaliatory strikes have caused casualties, damage to infrastructure, and disruptions to global markets and aviation.