Iranian missile attacks on southern Israel injured at least 11 people near the desert city of Beersheba on Sunday, emergency services said.

Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said the people were wounded by debris propelled by shockwaves from the strikes. Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly across the south of the country as rockets were detected.

In one strike, a large fire broke out at a chemical plant on the outskirts of Beersheba. Television footage showed a thick plume of smoke rising from the site.

Authorities briefly feared that hazardous substances could be released during the fire, posing a risk to nearby residents. However, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection later said inspections found no immediate danger to the public.