Nearly 100 Israelis wounded in Iran missile strike on Arad

TThe incident marked the second missile interception failure within two hours, following an earlier missile impact in Dimona.

By World Israel News and JNS

An Iranian missile struck the southern city of Arad on Saturday evening, wounding dozens and prompting a mass casualty declaration, as Israel faced continued attacks from Iran targeting both the south and north of the country.

United Hatzalah said that its paramedics treated 95 patients, including 10 in serious condition and some who were hospitalized, after a “mass casualty incident” in Arad, in southern Israel, some 25 miles east of Be’er Sheva.

Earlier Saturday evening, an Iranian ballistic missile struck the southern city of Dimona, wounding dozens and causing damage to residential buildings, as Tehran’s attacks follow recent US-Israel strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure.

A 12-year-old boy wounded in the strike is now in serious condition after being hit by shrapnel, according to Soroka Hospital in Beersheba.

Medical officials said several other patients being treated at the hospital are in good condition.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry called the attacks on Arad and Dimona “blatant war crimes” and “pure terrorism.”

Aerial footage of Arad appeared to show a large area in which the missile impacted, including blown-out residential buildings.

Magen David Adom said in Hebrew that as of 1:20 a.m. on Sunday, its medics and paramedics treated 88 people, including 10 seriously hurt, and evacuated patients to hospitals in “dozens” of ambulances.

Earlier the ambulatory service said that one of those in serious condition was a girl who is about 5-years-old.

“This has been a very difficult evening in the battle for our future. A short while ago, I spoke with Arad mayor Yair Ma’ayan, and asked to convey, on behalf of all the citizens of Israel, our prayers for the recovery of the wounded,” stated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

There was extensive destruction across multiple buildings, with nine structures reported damaged in the strike.

Rescue teams continued searching the area for trapped individuals.

The Israel Defense Forces said the Air Force is investigating why it failed to intercept the Iranian missile fired at Arad.

The incident marked the second missile interception failure within two hours, following an earlier missile impact in Dimona.

At the same time as the strike on Arad, Iran launched missiles toward northern Israel.

Sirens were activated twice across the region, from the Golan Heights to Haifa. All incoming projectiles were either intercepted or fell in open areas.

Earlier Saturday evening, 31 people were injured in a missile barrage targeting Dimona and surrounding communities.

Authorities identified 12 impact sites across the city, including one where a building collapsed.

Among the injured were a 10-year-old boy in serious condition and a woman about 40 years old, who was in moderate condition with shrapnel wounds, while the rest were listed in light condition.

The military initially assessed the Dimona incident as involving cluster munitions but later clarified that it was a direct hit from a standard ballistic missile. The IDF said it is also examining why that missile was not intercepted.