Tel Aviv, March 22: Iran has launched a significant missile attack on the Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad, which are known for their nuclear facilities. The attack, which occurred on Saturday, has left over 100 people injured, with 11 reported in critical condition. According to Israeli media, the country’s air defense systems failed to intercept at least two ballistic missiles during the assault.
In the aftermath of the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, vowed to continue fighting against Israel‘s adversaries on all fronts.
Reports from the Times of Israel indicate that among the seriously injured are a 12-year-old boy, who suffered shrapnel wounds in Dimona, and a 5-year-old girl injured in a subsequent attack in Arad. Iran reportedly targeted multiple locations in the Dimona area during the strikes.
Iranian state media claimed that these attacks aimed at Israel’s nuclear research facility, located approximately 10 kilometers from Dimona and 30 kilometers from Arad. The recent missile strikes are perceived as retaliation, as both the United States and Israel have been actively working to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
The Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center is considered crucial to Israel’s long-suspected nuclear weapons program, a matter that Jerusalem neither confirms nor denies as part of its policy.
The Israeli emergency service, Magen David Adom (MDA), reported that in addition to the critically injured boy, a 30-year-old woman sustained minor injuries from glass shards, and 31 others received treatment for light injuries. Most injuries were caused by shrapnel or occurred while seeking shelter. Fourteen individuals were treated for acute anxiety.
MDA paramedic Carmel Cohen stated, “There was significant damage at the scene, and chaos ensued.” The Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba confirmed that seven injured individuals, including the critically wounded 12-year-old boy, were admitted for further medical care, with the child receiving treatment in the trauma room and the others in the surgical emergency room.
A few hours after the attack in Dimona, a similar scene unfolded in Arad, where a ballistic missile struck, causing damage to several buildings.
MDA reported that its medical teams treated 71 individuals at the attack site before transporting them to hospitals. Among them, 10 were seriously injured, including a 5-year-old girl. Thirteen others were reported to be in stable condition, while 48 sustained minor injuries. Four additional individuals received treatment and were also taken to hospitals.
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