Amid security tensions with Iran, residents of Beit Shemesh reported and documented a large explosion Saturday evening in an area near the city. Tomer, a government-owned rocket propulsion company, was responsible for the explosion. The company said the blast had been coordinated and planned with the authorities.
The Beit Shemesh municipality denied that any official from the company or the defense establishment had informed it ahead of the explosion.
תיעוד: תושבים באזור בית שמש דיווחו על פיצוץ עז ואש שנראית מרחוק. מראה קצת אפוקליפטי.
מסתבר שמדובר בפיצוץ מבוקר שנעשה בתוך מפעל אזרחי. אין נזק או נפגעים. אפשר להרגע. pic.twitter.com/Xv3qVEFP8Y
— איתי בלומנטל ?? Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) May 16, 2026
Tomer is a government-owned defense company that develops and manufactures rocket engines, including for Arrow missiles, Barak MX missiles, precision rockets and the satellite launchers used by Israel.
Israel Fire and Rescue Services said the defense establishment had notified its dispatch center before the explosion so that firefighters would know, if alarmed residents called, that it was not a real incident. As noted, residents were not informed. The IDF has still not commented.
Israel Police said that as of now, there was nothing unusual.
