More than 100 people, including children, were injured after Iranian missile strikes hit the southern Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona, Tel Aviv authorities said, with significant damage reported to residential areas.The strikes, which Israeli officials said followed a failure of air defence systems to intercept incoming projectiles, left 75 people injured in Arad, including 10 in serious condition, hours after 33 were wounded in nearby Dimona, according to medics.Emergency responders described extensive destruction at both sites, with residential buildings torn open and large craters formed by the impact. Firefighters said interceptors were launched but failed to neutralise the ballistic missiles, which carried warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms.Emergency service Magen David Adom said it evacuated dozens of injured people to hospitals.“Among them are 10 patients in serious condition, 13 patients in moderate condition, and 48 patients in mild condition,” the agency said.In Dimona, which hosts a sensitive nuclear facility, medics treated 33 injured, including a 10-year-old boy with serious shrapnel wounds. Iranian state television described the strike as a “response” to an earlier attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear site.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken with Maayan and directed government agencies to provide assistance.“This is a very difficult evening in the battle for our future. Just a short while ago, I spoke with the Mayor of Arad, Yair Maayan, and asked him to convey, on behalf of all Israeli citizens, our prayers for the peace of the injured. I have instructed the Director General of my office to provide all the necessary assistance together with all government ministries,” Netanyahu said.“I strengthen the emergency and rescue forces operating in the field right now, and I call on everyone to heed the instructions of the Home Front Command. We are determined to continue to strike our enemies on all fronts,” he added.The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians.“The Iranian regime devastated Arad and Dimona by deliberately striking civilians with missiles. Over 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 around 150 families were evacuated from the affected neighbourhood following the strike.Former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid also condemned the attack. Bennett said, “Our hearts are now in Arad and Dimona. Praying together for the peace of the injured and their families.”Lapid added, “Our hearts are with the south this evening. A great disaster with dozens of wounded in Dimona and Arad. Strengthening the security and rescue forces who are working at this moment to save lives. And wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded. We are all with you.”The Israeli military said it would investigate the failure of its air defence systems. “The air defence systems operated but did not intercept the missile, we will investigate the incident and learn from it,” military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said on X.Iran has launched repeated missile barrages at Israel in recent days in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes that began on February 28.
