19 injured by Iranian missile strike near Jerusalem, homes destroyed

The Israeli Air Force is investigating the incident after interception attempts failed to stop the missile.

By World ISrael News Staff

An Iranian ballistic missile slammed into the Jerusalem-area community of Eshtaol on Saturday afternoon, leaving multiple people wounded and causing significant destruction across a residential neighborhood.

The strike was part of a broader barrage launched from Iran, with at least one missile making a direct impact in the town near Beit Shemesh. Officials said the warhead—believed to weigh several hundred kilograms—hit a populated area, damaging roughly 10 homes and dozens of vehicles.

The blast zone extended across an estimated 150-meter radius, with severe damage closest to the impact and lighter destruction further out.

Emergency crews reported that 19 people were injured, with some treated at the scene and others transported to hospitals. Several additional residents were treated for shock.

Among the wounded were individuals hurt by debris and structural collapse, including a man in his 50s who suffered a broken arm, two women in their 60s, and a 75-year-old man injured by fragments from a collapsing roof.

Others included a younger man struck by a flying window, another hit by a doorframe, and a woman suffering blast-related injuries. Additional casualties were reported at separate impact points within the area.

First responders arriving at the scene described widespread devastation, with emergency personnel working quickly to assess injuries and search for anyone who might be trapped.

Magen David Adom (MDA) senior medic Elad Kadmon said: “We received a report of an impact, and when we arrived, we saw destruction and people walking around fully conscious. We provided initial medical treatment to those lightly injured and conducted searches to ensure there were no additional casualties.”

Fire and Rescue commander Zachariah Rafael, who oversaw operations at the scene, emphasized the scale of the incident and the ongoing efforts to secure the area.

“This is a large-scale scene with multiple buildings affected. Firefighters are conducting thorough searches to rule out trapped individuals and addressing secondary hazards to ensure residents’ safety.”

A wide range of forces—including rescue teams, police units, bomb disposal experts, and Border Police—were deployed to the scene.

Jerusalem District Police Commander Avshalom Peled also arrived to conduct an on-site assessment alongside emergency officials.

The Israeli Air Force has launched an investigation into the strike after interception systems failed to prevent the missile from reaching its target.