At least nine people have been killed after an Iranian missile struck the central Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, marking one of the deadliest direct attacks on Israeli civilian areas in the current escalation.
Israeli emergency services said the ballistic missile hit a residential neighbourhood, damaging a building that included a public shelter beneath a synagogue. Dozens of people were reportedly injured, several critically, as rescue teams worked through debris into the early hours.
The strike forms part of Iran’s retaliatory campaign following joint US-Israeli operations targeting Iranian military and strategic infrastructure. Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel before impact, with authorities urging residents to remain in protected spaces.
Israeli officials vowed a firm response, while the military said air defence systems intercepted additional incoming projectiles. The attack has intensified fears of a broader regional conflict, with exchanges now extending across multiple fronts including Lebanon and the Gulf. International reactions have begun emerging as civilian casualties mount on both sides, raising concerns about further escalation in the coming days.
