Tel Aviv officials said more than 100 people, including children, were injured after Iranian missile attacks on the southern Israeli cities of Arad and Dimona, as well as significant damage in residential areas.Israeli officials said the attacks followed the failure of air defense systems to intercept incoming projectiles, hours after 33 people were wounded in nearby Dimona, wounding 75 people in Arad, including 10 in critical condition, according to doctors.Emergency responders described widespread destruction at both locations, with residential buildings torn apart and large craters left by the impact. Interceptors were launched but failed to neutralize the ballistic missiles, which carried warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms, firefighters said.Emergency services magan David Adom said it transported dozens of injured people to hospitals.“Of these, 10 patients are in serious condition, 13 patients are in moderate condition and 48 patients are 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 severe shrapnel wounds. Iranian state television described the attack as a “reaction” to an earlier attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear site.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken to Ma’an and instructed government agencies to provide assistance.Netanyahu said, “This is a very difficult evening in the fight for our future. Not long ago, I spoke to Mayor of Arad Yair Ma’an and asked him, on behalf of all Israeli citizens, to express our prayers for the peace of the injured. I have instructed the director general of my office to work with all government ministries to provide all necessary assistance.”He said, “I strengthen the emergency and rescue forces operating in the area right now, and I call on everyone to heed the instructions of the Home Front Command. We are determined to continue attacking our enemies on all fronts.”The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians.“The Iranian regime deliberately destroyed Arad and Dimona by attacking civilians with missiles. More than 100 people, including children, were injured. A blatant war crime. Pure terrorism,” the ministry said in a post on X.Arad Mayor Yair Mayan said about 150 families were evacuated from the affected area after the strike.Former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid also condemned the attack. “Our hearts are now in Arad and Dimona. Praying together for the peace of the injured and their families,” Bennett said.Lapid said, “This evening our hearts are with the south. A major disaster with dozens of people injured in Dimona and Arad. Strengthening the security and rescue forces who are currently working to save lives. And I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured. We are all with you.”The Israeli military said it would investigate the failure of its air defense systems. “The air defense systems operated but did not stop the missile, we will investigate the incident and learn from it,” military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said on Twitter.Iran has launched repeated missile attacks on Israel in recent days in response to the US-Israeli attacks that began on February 28.
