ARAD/DIMONA – In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, Iranian ballistic missiles struck two southern Israeli towns on Saturday evening, leaving at least 180 people injured and narrowly missing a sensitive nuclear research facility. The strikes on Arad and Dimona represent one of the most serious breaches of Israeli air defenses since the joint US-Israeli “Operation Epic Fury” began on February 28.
According to the Israeli Health Ministry, 116 residents were treated in Arad, while 64 others were injured in Dimona. Among the casualties are several children, including a 10-year-old boy in Dimona and a 5-year-old girl in Arad, both reported to be in serious condition. Emergency responders described scenes of “horror,” with residential apartment blocks partially sheared away and craters left in the center of civilian neighborhoods.
The Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, located approximately 13km (8 miles) from Dimona, was the apparent target of the barrage. However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed on Sunday that it has detected no damage to the facility or any abnormal radiation levels in the region. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called for “maximum military restraint,” warning of the catastrophic risks of combat near nuclear sites.
Tehran’s state media claimed the attack was a direct “retaliation” for a US-Israeli strike on Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment plant earlier on Saturday. While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not officially confirmed the Natanz operation, they reported that nearly 400 missiles have been fired at Israel over the past three weeks. Despite a 92% interception rate, the military has launched an investigation into why the Arrow and Iron Dome systems failed to stop the projectiles that hit Arad and Dimona.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting the impact sites on Sunday, described the survival of residents as “a matter of luck” and vowed that the campaign to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capability would continue. “Their intention is to murder civilians,” Netanyahu stated, standing before a destroyed apartment block in Arad.
As the war enters its fourth week, the humanitarian cost continues to rise on both sides, with Iranian officials reporting over 1,500 deaths from coalition strikes. Meanwhile, the U.S. administration faces growing pressure at home, as President Trump signaled a potential “winding down” of operations even while requesting additional funding for the Middle East theater.
