More than 170 people were injured in Israeli cities of Arad and Dimona in the country’s south following a missile strike carried out by Iran.
In Arad, a ballistic missile struck a residential area between apartment buildings—at least 115 people were wounded. Nine of the injured are in critical condition, a further 19 were hospitalized with moderate injuries, and 55 sustained minor wounds. According to journalists, the most severe injuries were suffered by those who were not in shelters at the time of the strike.
In Dimona, where a direct hit was also recorded, at least 59 people were injured. Among the seriously wounded is a 12-year-old boy with shrapnel injuries. His mother told the public broadcaster Kan that he had not managed to reach a bomb shelter in time.
Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba said it had treated 175 people injured in Arad and Dimona. According to The Times of Israel, 36 patients remained hospitalized as of the morning of March 22.
Iranian state agencies claim the strikes targeted an Israeli nuclear research center located roughly 10 kilometers from Dimona and 30 kilometers from Arad. According to their account, the attack was carried out in response to a strike on a uranium enrichment facility in Natanz the previous day.