Ask Onix
Missile attacks cause mass casualties in Israeli towns
Emergency services in Israel report that more than 160 people have been injured, some critically, after Iranian ballistic missiles struck the southern towns of Arad and Dimona on Saturday evening. The attacks targeted areas near the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, raising fears of escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Casualties and damage reported
In Arad, 84 individuals are receiving medical treatment, while Dimona has recorded 78 injuries. A 10-year-old boy in Dimona is among those in serious condition. Paramedics described harrowing scenes, including children with head and chest injuries caused by collapsing debris and shattered glass.
"I saw a lot of children with head and chest injuries after being crushed by objects inside a damaged building. I was trying to reassure a 10-year-old girl with head injuries, blood on her face from broken glass. She refused to get into the ambulance until her parents were evacuated from the destroyed apartment block," said Naram Zaid, a paramedic in Arad.
Naram Zaid, Paramedic
Residential buildings in both towns sustained heavy damage, with missile impacts leaving deep craters and gouging out exterior walls. In Arad, an Ultra-Orthodox community, crowds gathered to survey the destruction, their expressions grim as they assessed the aftermath.
Air defense failures and investigations
Israeli firefighters confirmed that interceptors launched to neutralize the incoming missiles failed to hit their targets, resulting in two direct strikes by ballistic missiles carrying warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms. Authorities have launched urgent investigations to determine how the missiles breached Israel's air defense systems, which intercepted 92% of the 400 missiles fired by Iran since the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28.
Despite the high interception rate, the recent breaches underscore vulnerabilities in Israel's defenses, echoing concerns from last summer's 12-day war. Analysts suggest such attacks may strengthen public resolve rather than weaken it, as Israelis brace for further escalation.
Nuclear facility remains unharmed
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated it has no evidence of damage to the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, located approximately 13 kilometers outside Dimona. The facility, colloquially known as the "Dimona reactor," is widely believed to house Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal, though successive governments have maintained a policy of ambiguity regarding its capabilities.
Israel is the only confirmed nuclear power in the Middle East, and any threat to its nuclear infrastructure is treated with extreme seriousness. Both Israel and the U.S. have identified the elimination of Iran's nuclear capabilities as a primary objective in the current conflict.
Iran claims retaliation for Natanz attack
Iranian state media framed the missile strikes as retaliation for an attack on its Natanz nuclear facility earlier on Saturday. Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation condemned the assault on Natanz as a violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons but confirmed no radioactive leakage or danger to nearby residents.
Natanz has been a frequent target, including during the initial days of the conflict on February 28 and last June's 12-day war. When questioned about the attack on Natanz, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told media they were unaware of any strike in the area.
Tel Aviv hit in follow-up attack
On Sunday, emergency services reported at least seven injuries after another Iranian missile strike targeted Tel Aviv. The IDF continues to monitor the situation as tensions remain high, with both sides locked in a cycle of retaliation that shows no signs of abating.
