Tel Aviv authorities said Iranian missiles struck the southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona, injuring more than 100 people, including children, and reportedly causing serious damage to residential areas.The attack, which Israeli officials said came after air defense systems failed to intercept incoming projectiles, injured 75 people in Arad, 10 of them seriously, hours after 33 people were wounded near Dimona, according to medics.Emergency workers described extensive damage at two locations, with residential buildings torn apart and large craters created by the impact. Firefighters said interceptors were fired but failed to stop the ballistic missile carrying a warhead weighing hundreds of kilograms.Emergency services Magen David Adom said dozens of injured people had been evacuated to hospitals.“Among them, 10 are severe patients, 13 are moderately ill, and 48 are mildly ill,” the agency said.In Dimona, which houses a sensitive nuclear facility, medics treated 33 injured, including a 10-year-old boy who was seriously injured by shrapnel. Iranian state television described the attack as a “response” to an earlier attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu He said he had spoken to Mayan and directed government agencies to provide assistance.Netanyahu said: “This is a very difficult night in the fight for our future. Just recently, I spoke with Arad Mayor Yair Mayan and asked him to convey on behalf of all Israeli citizens our prayers for the safety of the injured. I have instructed the director general of my office to provide all necessary assistance together with all government agencies.”He added: “I have now strengthened the emergency rescue forces operating on the scene, and I call on everyone to follow the instructions of the rear command. We are determined to continue to fight the enemy on all fronts.”Israel’s Foreign Ministry accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians.“The Iranian regime deliberately targeted civilians with missiles, destroying Arad and Dimona. More than 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 that about 150 families in the affected neighborhoods were evacuated after the strike.Former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid also condemned the attack. “Our thoughts are with Arad and Dimona right now. We are praying for the safety of the injured and their families,” Bennett said.Lapid added: “Our thoughts are with the South tonight. A huge disaster occurred in Dimona and Arad, leaving dozens injured. Strengthen the security and rescue forces that are working hard to save lives at this moment. He also wished the injured a speedy recovery. We are all with you. “The Israeli military said it would investigate the failure of its air defense system. Brigadier General Effie Devlin, a military spokesperson, said on Channel X: “The air defense system was activated but did not intercept the missile. We will investigate the incident and learn from it.”Iran has launched multiple missile attacks on Israel in recent days in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks that began on February 28.
