No fewer than 100 people have been injured after a barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles struck southern Israel, hitting key locations in the cities of Arad and Dimona in what authorities described as a large-scale and deeply troubling attack.
Among the casualties were a 12-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl, both reportedly in critical condition, as emergency teams raced to manage the aftermath of the strikes.
Local reports indicated that at least 27 people were wounded in Dimona, including a teenager who sustained severe shrapnel injuries. In Arad, no fewer than 68 people were affected, with 10 in serious condition and 14 moderately injured, while others suffered minor wounds.
A mass-casualty alert was declared at a hospital in Beersheba, as rescue operations intensified across multiple impact sites.
Chief Executive of Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom, Eli Bin, described the situation as overwhelming, warning that some victims might still be trapped beneath debris.
He said, “an event of enormous magnitude,” adding that emergency responders were concerned about individuals still unaccounted for.
Preliminary findings suggested that at least one missile, believed to carry a heavy conventional warhead, struck between residential buildings, causing extensive structural damage and igniting fires in surrounding homes.
The Israeli military has since launched an investigation into what appears to be a failure of its air defence system to intercept at least one of the incoming missiles.
An Israeli Defence Forces spokesperson, Effie Defrin, confirmed the lapse, stating: “The air defence systems operated but did not intercept the missile. We will investigate the incident and learn from it. This is not a special or unfamiliar type of munition.”
He added, “Our hearts are with the residents of Arad and Dimona tonight.”
Unverified reports also indicated that at least one building partially collapsed with occupants inside, while another structure was engulfed in flames, raising fears that the casualty toll could rise.
Reacting to the development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as a grave moment in the country’s ongoing conflict.
He said, “a very difficult evening in the campaign for our future,” adding, “We will continue to strike our enemies on all fronts with determination.”
Authorities are also probing an earlier strike in Dimona, home to the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, widely believed to play a central role in Israel’s undeclared nuclear programme.
Meanwhile, Iranian state-linked media claimed responsibility for the attacks, describing them as retaliation for alleged strikes on nuclear facilities in Bushehr and Natanz—claims Israel has denied.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency declared: “The enemy has once again received an unforgettable lesson. No area is safe from Iranian missiles.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely but said there was no indication of damage to nuclear infrastructure or abnormal radiation levels.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called for calm, urging “military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident.”
Air raid sirens reportedly continued across parts of southern Israel overnight, heightening fears of further escalation despite earlier signs of easing tensions in the region.
