Iran launched ballistic missile strikes at southern Israeli towns near the Dimona nuclear research facility, injuring dozens of people and marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran and israel. Iranian officials said the attack was retaliation for an alleged U.S.–Israeli strike on its Natanz nuclear enrichment site earlier the same day.
The southern town of Dimona, close to the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, was hit despite Israeli air defences attempting to intercept the incoming missiles. Emergency services reported multiple injuries and widespread property damage in residential areas. Another missile strike in nearby Arad also wounded people.
Israeli authorities said that while no damage to the nuclear facility itself has been confirmed, the attacks have shattered residents’ sense of security and highlighted potential vulnerabilities in the country’s air defence systems. Local hospitals treated dozens of wounded, with some in serious condition. International observers, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), called for maximum restraint around sensitive nuclear sites to prevent further escalation.
