Warehouse inferno - Iranian missile strike hits key chemical hub near Israel's Beersheva

"An Iranian missile strike on Israel’s key chemical hub triggered a major fire in the southern city of Beersheva on Sunday, raising fears of hazardous material exposure. Footage captured by the fire department shows a warehouse in flames in the Neot Hovav industrial zone and thick black smoke rising over the Negev desert. The Neot Hovav industrial complex is a critical hub responsible for roughly half of Israel’s chemical production. Three specialised hazardous materials teams were deployed alongside firefighters, working to assess air quality and contain any chemical risks. Authorities evacuated workers from the immediate area as a precaution. Monitoring stations were set up to detect dangerous gases, with nearby communities, including Rahat, placed on alert. Residents in surrounding areas were advised to remain indoors and keep windows closed while the situation was assessed. Emergency services confirmed that one person was lightly injured at the site and treated by medics. Sirens had sounded across southern Israel in the hours leading up to the strike, including areas near the Dimona nuclear research facility. The escalation follows joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran launched on February 28 during diplomatic efforts over Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli territory and US assets across the region, with explosions reported in several Gulf countries. Iran later confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei. The conflict has since expanded into Lebanon, where Hezbollah has launched attacks on Israel, while global energy markets have been shaken by disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel."

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