Geolocation
Airwars assessment
Two Thai nationals were killed, and as many as 20 people injured, when a rocket reportedly fired by the Al-Qassam Brigades struck an agricultural packaging plant in the town of Ohad, in southern Israel on May 18th, 2021, according to local reports.
The Al Qassam Brigade released a statement claiming responsibility for the strike in their Telegram channel: “The missile strike, which led to the death of 2 and the wounding of 20 others, was directed by the Al-Qassam Brigades towards the “Ohad” moshav within the Mtiftim complex in the Eshkol Regional Council, in which Q20 missiles were used.”
Two foreign workers, Weerawat Karunborirak, 44, and Sikharin Sangamram, 24, were on a break with colleagues when their residential compound was struck, said Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both were killed in the strike.
Police said the strike injured eight others, including one seriously and one moderately, according to the Time of Israel. The Magen David Adom ambulance service said the injured were transferred to Soroka Hospital by ambulance and helicopter. Images published by Ynet show that at least one woman was among the injured. On May 21st, 2021 the Bangkok Post reported that one man, Attarachai Thamkaew, 28, was still in hospital following the incident.
Weerawat Karunborirak arrived in Israel in 2018 with the intention of earning enough money to build a home for his family in Thailand, the construction of which ended before he had a chance to live in it, reported the Bangkok Post. Mr Karunborirak’s wife said her husband would call home twice a day, when he did not call on Tuesday she became worried and subsequently learned of his death through a friend. “I was shocked and I am still confused. I really don’t know what to do,” Ms Ruenrat told the Post.
Sikharin Sangamram, a husband and father of four, had recently arrived in the country; he had worked at the plant in Ohad for three days before he was killed, reported Haaretz.
A spokesperson for the Eshkol Regional Council said the workers had had access to a portable domed bomb shelter but had chosen not to use it, while Haaretz reported the shelters provided were too small to accommodate all of the workers on the site. Walla News quoted a Thai worker, interviewed by the BBC, who said that prior to the strike there had been no warning alarm.
The strike is believed to have taken place at noon.
The incident occured around midday.
The victims were named as:
Summary
Sources (49) [ collapse]
Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]
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ashkubit.com Rescue Union spokesperson via [ashkubit.com]
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Weerawat Karunborirak's widow is seen with a pictures of her late husband. Image courtesy of Ynet
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People wounded in the rocket strike on Ohad arrive at Soroka Hospital (Photo: Herzl Yosef visa Ynet)
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The scene of the strike (Photo: AP via Ynet)
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Relatives of the two workers killed by a rocket in Moshav Ohad hold their pictures. From Thailand's state television Footage Photograph: Thai PBS World
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The Q20 missile that was used in the Qassam missile strike on the Moshav "Ohad" within the Muftahim compound in the Eshkol Regional Council, which led to the killing of 2 and the wounding of 20 others. (Image posted by @amansouraja)
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Damage to vehicles and fire caused by Qassam missile strike on the Moshav "Ohad" within the Muftahim compound in the Eshkol Regional Council. (Image posted by @Abu_Obeida0)
Geolocation notes
Reports of the incident mention the town of Ohad (אוהד), for which the generic coordinates are: 31.237596, 34.431781. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.
Palestinian Militants Assessment:
Original strike reports
13:32
The missile strike, which led to the death of 2 and the wounding of 20 others, was directed by the Al-Qassam Brigades towards the "Ohad" moshav within the Mtiftim complex in the Eshkol Regional Council, in which Q20 missiles were used.