Iranian missile wounds five in Beersheba

Since the start of “Operation Rising Lion” on June 13, a total of 2,517 injured individuals have been admitted to hospitals across Israel.

By JNS

An Iranian ballistic missile struck the southern Israeli city of Beersheba early Friday morning, lightly wounding five people.

The missile impacted just outside a cluster of apartment buildings, causing significant damage to nearby homes.

On Thursday evening, some 15 ballistic missiles were fired at Israel’s north, with no reports of direct hits or direct casualties from missiles.

Air-raid sirens sounded across northern cities, including in Haifa, sending some 300,000 residents running for bomb shelters.

The Israeli Health Ministry said on Friday that 54 individuals were admitted to hospitals during the night and morning, transported by Magen David Adom and private vehicles.

Of those, one is in moderate condition, 46 are in good condition, three are being treated for anxiety-related injuries, and three are still undergoing medical evaluation, with their condition yet to be determined.

Most of the lightly injured sustained harm while making their way to protected areas or required psychological assistance due to anxiety.

Since the start of “Operation Rising Lion” on June 13, a total of 2,517 injured individuals have been admitted to hospitals across Israel. The majority have already been discharged, with 132 individuals currently receiving treatement.

Friday’s attack on Beersheva follows a missile barrage the previous day that wounded hundreds of Israelis, including at the city’s Soroka Medical Center and residential areas in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan and Holon.

“Iran’s terrorist tyrants launched missiles at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and at a civilian population in the center of the country,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X on Thursday.

“We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran,” he said.

Meanwhile, Israeli air defenses intercepted four Iranian drones overnight Thursday, including one targeting the Haifa area. The Israeli Air Force downed the remaining three UAVs in the Dead Sea area.

Since the launch of “Operation Rising Lion” on June 13, the IAF and the Israeli Navy have intercepted hundreds of Iranian drones fired toward the Jewish state.

The military reports that more than 95% of threats approaching Israeli airspace have been successfully neutralized.

Observation units within the IAF and Navy are working in close coordination with the IAF’s aerial defense systems and aircraft, the Navy’s missile boats and other security personnel to ensure the protection of Israel’s skies, the military added.

Alongside ongoing offensive operations aimed at degrading the Iranian regime’s military and nuclear capabilities, the IDF is actively intercepting surface-to-surface missiles and UAVs that have targeted population centers with the intent to kill Israeli civilians.

IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin emphasized on Thursday the military’s ongoing efforts to intercept threats from multiple fronts.

“Our defensive systems—in the air, at sea and on land—are operating around the clock to intercept threats. This is not only to counter the missile threat; since the beginning of the operation, we have successfully intercepted over 480 UAVs launched toward Israeli territory,” Defrin said.

“We are constantly assessing the situation on the home front,” he continued. “Our policy is to do everything we can to strike a balance between the top priority of saving lives and the need to maintain and ease daily life as much as possible.”

Defrin noted that the IDF is acting on seven fronts, prepared for both defense and offense. “Even this weekend, IDF soldiers and commanders will continue operating across all arenas to maintain safety and achieve the goals of this war,” he said.

“As a society that cherishes life, we stand strong together,” Defrin said.