An Iranian missile struck the town of Arad in southern Israel on Thursday, wounding dozens and causing significant damage to buildings, while another missile hit Dimona, home to a nuclear facility. The attacks, which occurred hours after strikes on Dimona, were described by a 17-year-old resident of Arad as “terrifying.”
Iranian Missile Attacks Wound Dozens in Southern Israel
Ido Franky, 17, of Arad, said he heard “terrifying” blasts unlike anything he had experienced before while sheltering from the Iranian missile attack. He and his family rushed to shelter as air raid sirens sounded.
“There was a ‘boom, boom!’, my mother was screaming,” Franky said near the impact site, where an AFP correspondent observed three damaged buildings and a blaze. “This was terrifying… this town had never seen anything like this,” he added.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency medical service reported that 84 wounded people from Arad were taken to hospitals, including 10 in serious condition.
As of early Friday, dozens of people remained at the Arad site, taking photos and contacting family to share details of the destruction, despite police warnings to stay away. Security forces patrolled the streets with flashlights while rescuers searched the rubble for any remaining casualties.
A crater approximately 5 meters in diameter was left amid the damaged buildings. Police spokesman Dean Elsdunne stated that the operation to clear the scene and account for all residents would take several hours.
An earlier missile struck Dimona, located about 25 kilometers south-west of Arad. Dimona hosts a facility widely believed to be the Middle East’s sole nuclear arsenal, though Israel has never officially confirmed this.
Israel maintains a policy of ambiguity regarding its nuclear program, with the plant officially dedicated to research. The missile that hit Dimona fell about 5 kilometers from the facility, wounding around 30 people, according to rescuers.
Online videos showed the missile engulfed in flames as it crashed to the ground. AFP footage revealed substantial damage to an apartment building, with debris including concrete blocks scattered around a crater.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Thursday as “a very difficult evening in the battle for our future.” He affirmed his commitment to continue targeting enemies on all fronts, according to a statement from his office.
Military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin wrote on X that air defense systems operated but did not intercept the missile, and an investigation is underway.
Israeli media has shared footage from Arad and Dimona, showing scenes that have been replayed across the country since the start of the conflict on Feb. 28 with US-Israeli air raids on Iran.
Security camera footage aired by Israeli networks showed people being thrown to the ground by the force of the blast as windows shattered.
Iranian missile attacks since the beginning of the conflict have killed 15 people in Israel and four Palestinian women in the occupied West Bank. While not the deadliest, the March 21 attacks on Dimona and Arad were among the most damaging inflicted by Iran on Israel.
The launches occurred while the United States and Israel continue to target locations across Iran, claiming to have degraded the Islamic republic’s capabilities.
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