Over 150 injured, 11 critically, in Iranian missile strikes on southern cities of Arad, Dimona

[ad_1] Almost 200 folks have been injured by Iranian strikes within the southern cities of Dimona and Arad on Saturday, 11 of them critically, medics mentioned, after Israeli air defenses didn't intercept a minimum of two ballistic missiles.

Following the strikes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Protection Forces Chief of Workers Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir pledged to proceed combating Israel’s enemies on “all fronts,” amid the US-Israeli warfare with Iran that started on February 28. The IDF later mentioned the Air Pressure was conducting a wave of strikes in Tehran focusing on the Iranian regime’s infrastructure.

Amongst these critically injured within the strikes on the south have been a 12-year-old boy affected by shrapnel accidents because of the strike in Dimona, and a 5-year-old woman damage within the subsequent strike in Arad. The missile fireplace got here amid repeated Iranian assaults on the Dimona space on Saturday.

Iranian state media mentioned the strikes have been focusing on Israel’s nuclear analysis facility, positioned some 10 kilometers (six miles) exterior of Dimona and 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) exterior of Arad, in retaliation for an alleged US assault on Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility earlier within the day. Iran blamed that assault on the US and Israel, although the IDF denied any involvement.

The Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Analysis Heart is believed to be key to Israel’s long-suspected nuclear weapons program, the existence of which Jerusalem neither confirms nor denies as a matter of coverage.

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By signing up, you conform to the terms Iran had additionally focused town of Dimona previous to the alleged assault on Natanz.

Some 20 individuals are frivolously injured by the Iranian ballistic missile impression in Dimona, Magen David Adom says. https://t.co/SUMLFLoSLp

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 21, 2026

Footage posted to social media from a number of angles confirmed the ballistic missile hurtling out of the sky at excessive pace earlier than crashing into town. The missile carried a traditional Iranian warhead, with a whole bunch of kilograms of explosives, based on navy assessments.

Emergency responders on the scene of an Iranian ballistic missile strike within the southern metropolis of Dimona that wounded almost 40 folks, March 21, 2026. (Israel Protection Forces)

Soroka Medical Heart in Beer Sheba, mentioned it handled 175 folks wounded within the assaults on Arad and Dimona, 36 of whom remained hospitalized as of Sunday morning.

Along with the boy listed in severe situation from the Dimona strike, a girl in her 30s was reasonably injured by glass shards and one other 31 folks have been handled for mild accidents within the metropolis, the Magen David Adom emergency service mentioned. The accidents have been primarily attributable to shrapnel or sustained whereas operating for shelter. One other 14 folks have been handled for acute nervousness.

The ambulance service launched a video of a residential constructing ablaze within the city.

The situation of a younger boy wounded by an Iranian ballistic missile impression in Dimona has worsened, medical officers say.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service says it handled a complete of 23 individuals who have been injured by the missile impression, together with the boy and a girl in her 30s… pic.twitter.com/MiNjF2TdGn

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 21, 2026

“There was in depth harm and chaos on the scene,” MDA paramedic Carmel Cohen mentioned in a press release.

The mom of the injured 12-year-old boy advised the Kan public broadcaster that he hadn’t managed to achieve the bomb shelter by the point the missile struck.

The Israel Protection Forces dispatched House Entrance Command search and rescue items to the scene of the impression, amid experiences that the missile, which carried a big warhead, had triggered vital harm to houses and different buildings within the space.

An Iranian ballistic missile strikes the southern metropolis of Dimona, March 21, 2026. (Social media; utilized in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Legislation) Hours later, comparable scenes of destruction unfolded in close by Arad after a ballistic missile impacted within the metropolis, inflicting harm to a number of buildings.

MDA mentioned its medical groups handled 84 folks for bodily accidents on the scene of the impression earlier than transferring them to hospitals, together with 10 who have been critically damage — amongst them a 5-year-old woman.

One other 19 folks have been listed in average situation, whereas 55 others have been frivolously damage. One other 4 folks have been handled for acute nervousness and likewise taken to hospitals.

Drone footage from United Hatzalah captured the impression scene in Arad.

The missile — carrying a traditional warhead with a whole bunch of kilograms of explosives — struck between a number of condo buildings, wounding dozens of individuals and inflicting in depth harm.

Drone footage courtesy of United Hatzalah exhibits the scene of the Iranian ballistic missile impression in Arad.

The missile struck between a number of condo buildings, wounding dozens of individuals and inflicting in depth harm. pic.twitter.com/rIKL2tpZPC

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 21, 2026

Dozens of ambulances, in addition to MDA helicopters and Israeli Air Pressure helicopters, have been current on the scene to evacuate the injured to the hospital.

Police Commissioner Danny Levy, talking on the web site of the impression in Arad, mentioned police didn't imagine anybody to be lacking following the strike however that searches by the rubble have been ongoing.

“We gained’t depart right here till we affirm that there isn't a one lacking and nobody now we have forgotten within the rubble,” Levy mentioned. He added that the searches have been utilizing technological means along with folks bodily looking the positioning of the impression.

“Based on experiences I obtained, there isn't a one trapped in the intervening time,” he mentioned. “We're persevering with to go looking in order that we really don’t neglect anybody right here.”

The navy mentioned the Israeli Air Pressure was investigating the failure to intercept each ballistic missiles. It confirmed air defenses had engaged each projectiles, however the interceptors didn't knock them down.

The House Entrance Command was additionally probing the circumstances of the impacts.

Emergency responders at a constructing within the southern metropolis of Arad that was broken by an Iranian ballistic missile, March 21, 2026. (Magen David Adom) However IDF spokesman Effie Defrin harassed that neither of the missiles mirrored a brand new menace, regardless of the failure to shoot them down.

“The air protection methods operated however didn't intercept the missile. We are going to examine the incident and be taught from it. This isn't a particular or unfamiliar sort of munition,” he mentioned in a publish on X.

“Our hearts are with the residents of Arad and Dimona tonight,” Defrin added, wishing the handfuls of victims a speedy restoration and stressing the significance of following House Entrance Command tips.

Additionally on Saturday evening, an extra Iranian missile assault set off sirens in Eilat and the encircling space.

There have been no experiences of accidents, and preliminary navy assessments recommended the missile heading towards Israel’s southernmost metropolis had been intercepted.

PM: ‘Very tough’ night, we’ll maintain combating ‘on all fronts’ Netanyahu addressed the 2 strikes in a press release acknowledging the “very tough night within the marketing campaign for our future.”

He mentioned he spoke with the mayors of Dimona and Arad, and known as on authorities ministries to “present all essential help” to the 2 cities.

“We are going to proceed to strike our enemies on all fronts with willpower,” the premier added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is up to date on Iranian missile strikes late on March 21, 2026. (Avi Ohayon / GPO) Within the hours following the strikes, the Well being Ministry introduced that a few of these wounded in Arad and Dimona can be transferred from hospitals within the south of the nation to these within the heart.

Well being Ministry Director Basic Moshe Bar Siman Tov mentioned the well being system was now working in full emergency mode, and was getting ready to offer elevated psychological well being look after the inhabitants within the south of the nation and for many who had been evacuated from their houses to inns within the Lifeless Sea space.

As well as, he mentioned the Nationwide Resilience Heart had contacted the mayors of Dimona and Arad to help with no matter was wanted.

“It is a advanced and tough sequence of occasions, and the regulated evacuation between hospitals permits us to take care of a excessive stage of look after every casualty, even when there are a number of incidents on the identical time,” Siman Tov mentioned.

Training Minister Yoav Kisch introduced that each one in-person instructional actions can be cancelled throughout Israel on Sunday and Monday.

The choice, made in session with the House Entrance Command, can be enforced throughout your entire nation, Kisch mentioned, together with in areas that had beforehand been allowed to renew in-person schooling.

The harm from an Iranian ballistic missile that struck the southern metropolis of Dimona, March 21, 2026. (Adiel Algi/Flash90) Zamir: Iran offensive has reached midway level In Iran on Saturday, native information businesses reported {that a} hospital and a vacationer web site within the nation’s southwest have been broken in Israeli and US strikes, killing a minimum of one little one.

Based on the semi-official Mehr and Fars information businesses, strikes killed a toddler on the Ritaj leisure advanced in Ahvaz and broken the Andimeshk’s Imam Ali Hospital, each of that are within the Khuzestan province on the border with Iraq. The hospital mentioned the blast created vital harm and that the hospital was not accepting sufferers, however didn't give another info.

Protection Minister Israel Katz mentioned the strikes in opposition to Iran might be anticipated to accentuate within the coming week.

“This week, the depth of the strikes that the IDF and the US navy will perform in opposition to the Iranian terror regime and the infrastructure it depends on will considerably escalate,” he mentioned throughout an evaluation with navy officers.

Katz mentioned that Israel is “decided to proceed main the offensive in opposition to the Iranian terror regime, to decapitate its commanders and thwart its strategic capabilities, till each safety menace to the State of Israel and to US pursuits within the area is eliminated.”

IDF Chief of Workers Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir speaks in a video assertion, March 21, 2026. (Israel Protection Forces) In the meantime, IDF Chief of Workers Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir mentioned on Saturday evening that the navy was midway by its marketing campaign in opposition to Iran.

“We're midway by, however the course is evident. In a few week, on Passover, the vacation of freedom, we'll proceed to combat for our freedom and our future,” he mentioned in a video assertion.

Zamir mentioned that the “in depth harm now we have triggered to the Iranian regime over the previous three weeks is starting to build up right into a systemic-strategic, navy, financial, and governmental achievement.”

“Because of this, the regime of evil is weaker, and Iran is extra uncovered and with out vital protection capabilities. The leaders of the regime, who developed capabilities with the purpose of destroying us, are battered and confused,” he mentioned.

The IDF chief additionally commented on Iran’s latest long-range ballistic missile attack on the UK-US Indian Ocean navy base at Diego Garcia.

The failed strike was the primary indication that Tehran has missiles in its stockpiles that may journey a lot additional than beforehand acknowledged.

“Simply yesterday, Iran launched a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile with a variety of 4,000 kilometers [2,500 miles] towards an American goal on the island of Diego Garcia. These missiles weren't supposed to hit Israel. Their vary reaches the capitals of Europe — Berlin, Paris, and Rome are all inside direct menace vary,” Zamir mentioned.

Individually, Zamir held an evaluation with senior officers following the strikes in Dimona and Arad.

The evaluation was attended by Operations Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen, Israeli Air Pressure chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, and House Entrance Command chief Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper.

The navy mentioned Zamir instructed the officers to “proceed investigating the incidents and draw classes from them.”

As well as, Zamir accepted strikes that may happen tonight “throughout all fronts,” the IDF added.

Gulf focused in assaults; Saudi expels Iranian diplomats Alongside its assaults on Israel, Iran saved up its fireplace on Gulf states on Saturday, firing drones on the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

The UAE mentioned it was dealing with aerial assaults from the Islamic Republic, after Iran warned its neighbor in opposition to permitting the US to launch assaults from its territory on disputed islands close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

“UAE air defences are presently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran,” the Emirati protection ministry mentioned in a press release explaining that “the sounds heard are the results of the Air Protection Methods intercepting missiles and drones.”

A ministry spokesperson mentioned Sunday morning that three drones had been intercepted and destroyed within the nation’s japanese area.

The Tasnim information company reported the Iranian navy’s operational command had warned the UAE that “if any additional aggression originates from its territory in opposition to the Iranian islands of Abu Musa and Larger Tunb within the Persian Gulf, Iran… will topic Ras Al Khaimah within the UAE to heavy strikes.”

Authorities within the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, which shares its identify with the UAE’s sixth-largest metropolis, mentioned afterward Saturday the “sounds heard throughout components of town have been the results of profitable air protection interception operations.”

Abu Musa and the Larger Tunb islands, that are managed by Iran however claimed by the UAE, have lengthy been a supply of dispute between the 2 nations.

The islands are positioned within the Gulf close to the doorway to the vital international transport chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz.

A cargo ships sail within the Arabian Gulf in the direction of Strait of Hormuz within the United Arab Emirates, March 19, 2026. (AP Photograph) Egypt’s president Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman warned Saturday that the Iranian escalation in opposition to Gulf states endangered the security and the steadiness of the area.

The state-run Saudi Press Company reported that Sissi reiterated his nation’s rejection of the Iranian assaults on the Gulf states, including that the Egyptian president expressed solidarity with the Kingdom in opposition to threats.

Saudi Arabia’s international ministry mentioned on Saturday that the Iranian safety attache and his assistant, together with three different staffers within the Iranian embassy in Saudi Arabia, needed to depart inside 24 hours. Hours earlier, Saudi Arabia downed 20 Iranian drones, based on its protection ministry.

On Sunday morning, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Protection mentioned three ballistic missiles had been detected across the capital.

“One missile was intercepted, whereas the opposite two fell in an uninhabited space,” a spokesperson for the ministry posted on social media.

Additionally Saturday, Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit welcomed the visits of Sissi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II to a number of Gulf states over the previous few days, saying that these visits “replicate full Arab solidarity.”

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