Iranian launched missile strikes on the southern side of Israel, hitting the town of Arad and the nearby locality of Dimona, which reportedly injured at least 70 people and causing extensive damage, Israeli officials said.
The strikes are particularly noteworthy, for they both hit near Dimona, which is said to host West Asia’s largest array of nuclear weapons.
While Tel Aviv has never formally acknowledged or disagreed with the assessment that it possesses nukes, Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, with Dimona widely believed to be linked to the country’s undeclared nuclear arsenal.
Post the attack, Israeli firefighters reported a “direct hit” in the town of Arad, which is located about 15 miles (24km) northeast of Dimona, leaving three buildings damaged and a fire breaking out at one site.
Medics said around 30 people were wounded there, mostly ranging from mild to moderate, though some are said to be in serious condition.
According to Channel 24, the strikes by Tehran caused heavy damage to structures in both locations, which lie close to Israel’s main nuclear research facility in the Negev desert.
Emergency services in the country said that missile interceptors were launched but failed to stop the incoming projectiles.
“In both Dimona and Arad… interceptors were launched that failed to hit the threats, resulting in two direct hits by ballistic missiles with warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms,” the fire service said.
In Dimona, a missile struck a building, injuring nearly two dozen people, including a 10-year-old boy with shrapnel wounds, according to Magen David Adom. Rescue teams described widespread destruction, with multiple casualties requiring hospital treatment.
Iranian state media said the strike on Dimona was in response to an earlier attack on an attack on its Natanz nuclear enrichment site, which Tehran blamed on Israel, though Israeli officials denied involvement.
Across both incidents, emergency responders reported close to 100 people being injured, though no casualties were reported.
Following the attacks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would continue its military campaign, and vowed vengeance.
“This is a very difficult evening in the campaign for our future,” he said and stated he had spoken to Arad’s mayor and conveyed “our prayers for the peace of the injured”.
“We are determined to continue to strike our enemies on all fronts,” Netanyahu asserted.
Hours later, the Israeli military claimed to have launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran targeting infrastructure directly linked to the Iranian military regime, further upping the ante of their assault.
