Operation Roaring Lion: A 68-year-old woman from Tel Aviv died Sunday morning after experiencing shortness of breath while hurrying to a bomb shelter during a rocket alert siren.

Marina Belyav collapsed on a bench as she attempted to reach safety, and neighbors found her choking before emergency responders evacuated her to Ichilov Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead after prolonged resuscitation efforts. Her daughter recounted the frantic moments leading up to the incident, saying her mother suffered panic and difficulty breathing as sirens sounded, a fear familiar to many Israelis during sustained rocket barrages.

Medical professionals noted that while panic itself doesn’t directly cause fatal breathing issues, underlying health conditions can be triggered or worsened by the stress and physical exertion of seeking shelter. Officials urged residents, especially those with chronic illnesses, to follow Home Front Command guidance closely and stay near protected spaces with necessary medications at hand.

This tragic death follows an earlier fatality Saturday night when a missile struck a residential building in Tel Aviv, killing a caregiver and injuring many, reminding us of the importance of carefully and effectively getting to a safe space.