In a significant escalation, Iran launched missile strikes on the Israeli towns of Dimona and Arad late Saturday night, injuring over 100 people. The attack is widely regarded as a retaliatory response to recent Israeli strikes on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.
The city of Dimona, home to Israel’s Negev Nuclear Research Center, was among the primary targets. The missile strikes resulted in extensive damage, tearing open the fronts of residential buildings and creating craters in the ground, according to reports from AFP. Arad was also hit, with firefighters confirming that ballistic missiles with warheads weighing hundreds of kilograms struck the area.
Israeli interceptors attempted to neutralize the threat but failed to hit the incoming missiles, AFP quoted emergency officials. As a result, two missiles made direct contact, causing widespread destruction.
Emergency services from Magen David Adom reported that 84 individuals were wounded in Arad, with 10 in serious condition, and 33 were injured in Dimona. Paramedic Karmel Cohen described the scene as chaotic, with extensive damage across both locations.
A video circulating online shows a fireball descending from the sky during the attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the strikes, describing the evening as “very difficult,” and promised to bolster emergency and rescue operations. He also reaffirmed Israel’s resolve to continue targeting Iranian regime assets, announcing that Israeli forces are currently conducting strikes on Iranian targets in Tehran.
IDF spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin confirmed that Israeli air defense systems operated during the attack but failed to intercept the missiles. An investigation into the failure is underway. Defrin emphasized that the weapons used were not unusual and reassured the public.
Israel’s military leadership expressed solidarity with the affected residents and urged civilians to follow instructions from the Home Front Command as rescue efforts continue.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, which was also targeted earlier this month, was reportedly hit in an airstrike. According to Iran’s official news agency, Mizan, no radiation leakage or radiological consequences were reported from the attack. Satellite images indicate damage to several buildings at the site, which is Iran’s main enrichment facility located approximately 220 kilometers southeast of Tehran.
The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has stated that no radiological danger is expected from the strike. The Natanz facility has previously been targeted by Israeli and US airstrikes, including during the recent 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel in June 2025.