Two Seriously Injured in Northern Israel from Old Explosive; Unusual Airstrike Reported in Syria

An unusual incident occurred on Tuesday morning near Metula, a northern Israeli town, where six Thai foreign workers were injured by an explosion of an old unexploded ordnance in an open field. Two of the workers were seriously wounded. The incident took place around 06:52 AM in nectarine orchards near Metula. Emergency services, including police bomb disposal units and Magen David Adom paramedics, responded promptly. Senior medic Moti Barel reported providing initial treatment on site, including stopping bleeding and administering medication, before evacuating the injured by helicopter and ambulances to Ziv Hospital. The Metula local council confirmed the ordnance was old and had not been detected or neutralized previously, emphasizing there was no security threat and daily life in the town continues as usual.

Simultaneously, reports from Arab media indicated that four airstrikes targeted the Abu al-Duhur military airfield in eastern Idlib, Syria, overnight. The airfield, strategically located near Idlib, Hama, and Aleppo provinces, was reportedly hit on its runway. Local sources suggested the strikes were carried out by Israel after a period of relative inactivity by the Israeli Defense Forces in Syria. The IDF declined to comment on these reports. Syrian official media did not attribute the attack to Israel, stating the responsible party was unidentified, though local reports hinted at Israeli involvement.

Abu al-Duhur airbase, covering an estimated 16 to 23 square kilometers, has been a significant military site in northern Syria, changing hands during the civil war. Opposition forces took it in 2015, but Syrian government forces recaptured it in early 2018 with Russian support. Additionally, routine strikes were reported in southern Lebanon villages al-Mansouri and Deir Sirian. On the same morning, an interceptor missile was launched from western Galilee, likely targeting a false alarm.

Authorities urged the public not to touch any suspicious remnants or missile parts found in the area and to report them immediately to emergency services. The incident highlights ongoing risks from unexploded ordnance in border areas and continued regional military tensions.