Missiles hit Dimona, Arad, Tel Aviv and the north in past 24 hours, causing mass casualties, displacement, and renewed pressure on Israel’s air defenses

Overnight into Sunday, Israel faced one of its most intense impacts, with one person killed in a northern strike and hundreds wounded in Iranian missile attacks across the country. Hospitals reported 175 people treated in the southern impact zones alone, while the Health Ministry said 303 individuals were hospitalized nationwide over the past day. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “This has been a very difficult evening in the battle for our future.”

The first major strike hit Dimona late Saturday night, where a ballistic missile caused widespread destruction in a residential neighborhood. Around 60 people were injured, most lightly, as dozens of homes, a kindergarten, and a local clubhouse were damaged. Authorities evacuated 485 residents who could not return home. Among the wounded was a 12-year-old boy in serious condition who underwent surgery.

A short time later, a second missile struck Arad, causing a larger casualty event. Initial emergency reports counted 84 injured, later rising to approximately 115, including several in serious condition. Roughly 20 buildings were damaged, and 150 families were displaced. Arad Mayor Yair Maayan said, “Three buildings are now designated for demolition.” Officials assessed the strike involved a large single warhead.

Strikes continued into Sunday morning, when a projectile from Lebanon hit near Kibbutz Misgav Am, killing one person and igniting vehicles. “We arrived at the scene and saw two vehicles on fire. During firefighting operations, we identified a man in the driver’s seat. He had no signs of life, and we were forced to declare his death,” MDA medics said. In central Israel, a separate missile carrying a cluster warhead wounded 15 people in Tel Aviv.

The strain on Israel’s medical system was evident as Soroka Medical Center declared a mass casualty event. The IDF Home Front Command tightened restrictions across southern regions, suspending schools and limiting gatherings. The military acknowledged interception failures, saying, “The air defense systems operated but did not intercept the missile. We will investigate the incident and learn from it,” while Iran claimed the strikes targeted security-related sites in the Dimona area.