Thousands of Unexploded Ordnance Scattered Across Northern Israel, Posing Bomb Threat

Thousands of unexploded ordnance (UXO) are scattered across northern Israel, posing a significant danger, according to retired Brigadier General Tzvika Haimovitch, former commander of the air defense array. This warning comes a day after a tragic incident in the Upper Galilee where a 14-year-old student was killed and 23 others were injured when a cluster munition detonated during a school trip. Haimovitch explained that Hezbollah and Iran used cluster bombs during the recent war, which disperse numerous smaller bomblets over a wide area. Many of these bomblets fail to detonate upon impact, remaining as dangerous unexploded ordnance. He emphasized that each unexploded bomblet is a potential bomb, capable of detonating if touched, moved, or disturbed. The Northern Command estimates that thousands of such bomblets remain in northern areas, primarily from Hezbollah launches over the past three years of conflict. Haimovitch cautioned that the danger is not confined to the north, warning that unexploded ordnance is likely scattered across open areas nationwide, including the south and center of the country. He stressed that any area that was part of the combat zone should be treated with extreme caution. In response to the incident, the Minister of Education, Yoav Kisch, is considering a temporary halt to school trips in the north. The public is advised not to touch or move any suspicious objects, to move away from the area, and to report it immediately to the police. Travelers are urged to stay on marked trails, especially in areas that saw combat.