Jerusalem, 15 March, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Following the Iranian missile attack on Thursday, March 12, on the northern Arab town Zarzir, Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection completed the initial removal of debris from the Zarzir community within a few hours. The operation included targeted removal of the rubble of buildings that were directly affected and was intended to prevent immediate environmental and health hazards and remove barriers in order to accelerate the rehabilitation of the community and return residents to a safe routine.
Immediately upon receiving the report of the extent of the damage, the Northern District Department of The Ministry of Environmental Protection and representatives of the Galilee and Valleys Authorities Cluster arrived at the site, said the Ministry. The teams estimated the extent of the damage, and as mentioned, within a few hours the cluster activated a dedicated evacuation system. The waste was safely evacuated from the neighborhoods and transported directly to a licensed treatment and recycling site, an action essential to preventing associated environmental hazards.
Yesterday, March 14, at the end of Shabbat, Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman and the Northern District Director of the Ministry, Dr. Sigal Blumenfeld, toured the affected areas. During the visit, they met with the head of the Zarzir Council, Atef Grifat, and the head of the Ka’abiya Council, Yasser Tabash, closely monitored the pace of the evacuation work, and heard from the local authority and residents about the urgent needs arising from the area. The minister emphasized the ministry’s commitment to strengthening the resilience of the settlement and ensuring a clean and safe environment for residents.