Ministry says hazardous materials leak has been ruled out after missile fragment hit factory in south

Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter

Fire trucks enter a factory in the Neot Hovav industrial zone in the Negev after an Iranian missile impacted and caused a blaze there, March 29, 2026. (Tsafrir Abayov/Flash90)
Fire trucks enter a factory in the Neot Hovav industrial zone in the Negev after an Iranian missile impacted and caused a blaze there, March 29, 2026. (Tsafrir Abayov/Flash90)

The Environmental Protection Ministry announces that there is no risk to the public after a missile fragment hit a chemical factory in southern Israel, sparking a fire and fears of a hazardous substances leak.

The damaged plant belongs to ADAMA, part of the Chinese-owned Syngenta Group. The factory manufactures agricultural materials such as insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides.

“No concern was found for a hazardous materials incident or risk to the public,” Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman says.

Silman adds that ministry professionals have carried out on-site measurements and monitoring, and that “in accordance with the findings of the updated tests, it was decided to open the roads and restore activity to normal.”

Workers from the factory and adjacent plants who were hurried off to protected areas have been allowed to leave them.

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