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Iran launched two waves of missile attacks against Israel on Sunday morning, injuring at least 16 people and causing significant damage to property. The strikes came in direct response to the US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities.
The attacks began around 7:30 am local time, with missiles targeting multiple areas across Israel. Emergency services reported at least one major impact in central Israel, where rescue teams rushed to treat the wounded.
Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service said in a statement that it had “evacuated 16 people to hospital, including a 30-year-old man in moderate condition after being wounded in the upper body by shrapnel.”
The scale of destruction became clear as television footage emerged from the affected areas. Public broadcaster KAN 11 showed images of a devastated building surrounded by mounds of rubble that it said was in central Israel, following the two waves of missiles launched at Israel from around 7:30 am local time Sunday.
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Warning sirens wailed across the country as Israeli military systems detected the incoming missiles. Air defence systems activated immediately, creating loud explosions that could be heard in major cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
The northern port city of Haifa also came under attack. Israeli police reported “the fall of weapon fragments” in a northern area encompassing the port of Haifa, where local authorities said emergency services were heading to an “accident site”.
This latest barrage adds to the mounting toll from the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. Reporting on missile strikes is subject to strict military censorship rules in Israel, but at least 50 impacts have been officially acknowledged nationwide and 25 people have been killed since the war began with Iran on June 13, according to official figures.
Iran has consistently targeted Israel’s most populated areas throughout the conflict. Coastal hub Tel Aviv, the southern city of Beersheba and the northern port Haifa have been the three areas most frequently targeted by Iran.
Despite the intensity of the attacks, Israel’s advanced defence systems have proven largely effective. Israel’s sophisticated air defences have intercepted more than 450 missiles along with around 1,000 drones, according to the latest figures from the Israeli military.
