Iranian Missile Strikes Injure Over 160 Near Israeli Nuclear Facility

Iranian missile strikes on the Israeli towns of Arad and Dimona have resulted in over 160 injuries, including several serious cases, according to Israeli emergency officials. The attacks occurred on Saturday evening, targeting areas near the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, located approximately 13 kilometers outside Dimona. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no damage to the nuclear facility.

Iranian state television stated that the missile strikes were in retaliation for an earlier attack on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility. The Israeli Air Force reported that Tehran has launched 400 missiles at Israel since the joint U.S.-Israeli operation on February 28, with a 92% interception rate.

In Arad, residents described the explosions as terrifying, with significant damage to buildings and a deep crater left by the missile impact. Naram Zaid, a local paramedic, recounted treating numerous children with head and chest injuries caused by falling debris. She described assisting a 10-year-old girl with head injuries who was reluctant to enter the ambulance without her parents, who were still inside the damaged building.

The attacks have raised concerns about the effectiveness of Israel's air defense systems. Investigations are underway to determine how the missiles penetrated these defenses. The Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center is widely believed to house Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal, making any threat to the facility a matter of utmost concern for Israeli authorities.

Both Israel and the United States have stated that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons is a primary objective of their military operations. Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation condemned the attack on Natanz as a violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons but reported no radioactive material leakage or danger to nearby residents.