Tel Aviv: Over 100 people, including children, suffered injuries after Iranian missiles hit the southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona on Saturday evening. Authorities in Tel Aviv reported significant damage to property.
Israeli officials said that the strikes occurred due to a failure of air defence systems to intercept incoming projectiles.
While 75 people were injured in Arad, including 10 in serious condition, 33 were wounded in nearby Dimona, medics said.
Extensive destruction at both sites was reported by emergency responders. Residential buildings were torn open and large craters formed by the impact. Interceptors were launched but failed to neutralise the ballistic missiles, which carried warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms, firefighters said.
Emergency service Magen David Adom said it evacuated dozens of injured people to hospitals, as reported by TOI.
“Among them are 10 patients in serious condition, 13 patients in moderate condition, and 48 patients in mild condition,” the agency said.
Medics treated 33 injured, including a 10-year-old boy with serious shrapnel wounds in Dimona, which hosts a sensitive nuclear facility.
The strike was in response to Israel’s attack on the nuclear enrichment site at Natanz, Iranian state television said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken with officials and directed government agencies to provide assistance.
“This is a very difficult evening in the battle for
our future. Just a short while ago, I spoke with the Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan, and asked him to convey, on behalf of all Israeli citizens, our prayers for the peace of the injured. I have instructed the Director General of my office to provide all the necessary assistance together with all government ministries,” Netanyahu said.
“I strengthen the emergency and rescue forces operating in the field right now, and I call on everyone to heed the instructions of the Home Front Command. We are determined to continue to strike our enemies on all fronts,” he added.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians.
“The Iranian regime devastated Arad and Dimona by deliberately striking civilians with missiles. Over 100 people were injured, including children. A blatant war crime. Pure terrorism,” the Ministry said in a post on X.
Arad Mayor Yair Maayan said around 150 families were evacuated from the affected neighbourhood following the strike.
The attack was also condemned by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Bennett said, “Our hearts are now in Arad and Dimona. Praying together for the peace of the injured and their families.”
“Our hearts are with the south this evening. A great disaster with dozens of wounded in Dimona and Arad. Strengthening the security and rescue forces who are working at this moment to save lives. And wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded. We are all with you,” Lapid added.
It would investigate the failure of its air defence systems, the Israeli military said. “The air defence systems operated but did not intercept the missile, we will investigate the incident and learn from it,” military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said on X.
Earlier on Saturday, the Iranian defence ministry has warned of severe retaliatory strikes if the country’s infrastructure is attacked.