Iranian Missile Attack Injures 14 in Central Israel

An Iranian ballistic missile equipped with a cluster bomb warhead struck central Israel on Wednesday morning, injuring 14 people, including a young girl who is in critical condition. The attack occurred as residents were preparing for the Passover Seder.

The missile dispersed bomblets over a wide area, causing multiple impacts in Bnei Brak and Tel Aviv. Sheba Medical Center reported that its teams are "fighting for the life" of the 11-year-old girl hit by shrapnel in Bnei Brak; her father is in moderate condition. The two were apparently not in a shelter at the time of the strike.

In a separate incident, a 6-year-old boy was moderately injured after being hit by a car while heading to a shelter in Rishon Lezion, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service.

Images from Bnei Brak showed first responders and residents evacuating small children from an apartment building that was hit. Footage from downtown Tel Aviv depicted first responders at another impact site and a small crater on the road near the French embassy. Damage to cars, homes, and businesses was reported in several locations throughout central Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that two of the missiles fired later were intercepted, while another barrage was allowed to strike open areas "according to protocol." Additionally, the IDF reported intercepting a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthis toward southern Israel; no injuries were reported. Sirens had sounded in Beersheba and across the south.

The Houthis have fired several missiles and drones at Israel since joining the conflict on Saturday, after staying out of the fighting for most of its first month. In a Wednesday statement, the Houthis claimed to have targeted "sensitive Israeli enemy targets" in the south with a "barrage of ballistic missiles," stating the attack was "conducted jointly with" Iran and Hezbollah.

Since the start of the war on February 28, more than 500 ballistic missiles have been launched from Iran at Israel, with the military reporting an interception rate of 92 percent for attacks heading toward populated areas and key infrastructure. In total, 12 missiles carrying conventional warheads with hundreds of kilograms of explosives have struck populated areas in Israel, causing extensive damage. There have also been more than 30 incidents of missiles carrying cluster bomb warheads hitting populated areas, resulting in over 200 separate impact sites.