ISTANBUL

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, Israeli daily Maariv reported.

The fire raised concerns of a potential hazardous materials incident, but no leak was confirmed, the outlet said, adding that monitoring continued as a precaution.

Shashi Shlomo, a Negev police official, said they "closed the road to prevent people from entering the industrial area.”

The US and Israel on Feb. 28 launched an air offensive on Iran, so far killing over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.