A large explosion near the central Israeli city of Beit Shemesh late Saturday was part of a pre-planned and controlled test, according to a statement by state-owned Tomer defence company that was cited by The Times of Israel.
Videos on social media showed flames and a large plume of smoke rising from the area following the blast, which was heard in nearby communities.
Massive Mushroom Explosion Rocks Beit Shemesh West of Al-Quds
A massive explosion rocked the town of Beit Shemesh west of Al-Quds on Saturday, sending a large mushroom cloud billowing into the sky. Emergencies were blocked from reaching the scene of the blast. pic.twitter.com/8V622u5iMD
— Tasnim News Agency (@Tasnimnews_EN) May 17, 2026
The Times of Israel said the explosion occurred at a testing ground belonging to Tomer, a company that develops rocket and missile engines.
The company said the blast was a “pre-planned experiment” that was carried out according to schedule.
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Israel announced on Thursday the signing of a contract worth more than $34 million to develop “an extended-range” capability for the F-35 Adir fighter jet.
The Defence Ministry said in a statement that its Defence Procurement Directorate signed the deal with Cyclone, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems.
The agreement covers “the development of an extended-range capability for the F-35 ‘Adir’ fighter jet, manufactured by Lockheed Martin,” the statement added.
“The deal, valued at over $34 million (over NIS 100 million), covers the development and integration of external fuel tanks based on an existing Cyclone design originally developed for the F-16,” it said.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneAnadolu AgencyRead More