In brief
An Iranian missile has struck Dimona in southern Israel, near a key nuclear facility, reportedly in retaliation for an earlier attack on Iran's Natanz facility. The IAEA confirmed no damage occurred to the nuclear site, while Israeli emergency services treated dozens of individuals for injuries linked to the strike.
An Iranian missile strike has hit the town of Dimona in southern Israel, which is in proximity to a nuclear facility known as the Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no damage to the nuclear research facility located approximately eight miles from Dimona.
According to Iranian state television, the strike was a response to an alleged attack on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility earlier on the same day. The IAEA further stated that no increase in off-site radiation levels had been detected after the incident.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi urged that maximum military restraint should be observed, particularly around nuclear facilities.
Following the strike in Dimona, Israel's ambulance service reported treating 40 individuals, with 37 sustaining mild injuries and a 10-year-old boy in serious condition. An additional 68 people were treated after another attack in the nearby town of Arad.
Emergency medical technician Yakir Talkar described the situation in Arad as very severe, reporting numerous victims with varying degrees of injury.
Israeli authorities are investigating how missiles penetrated their air defense systems, as some interceptors were launched but failed to neutralize the threats.
The Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center has long been associated with Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal, although it officially maintains that it focuses solely on research.
This attack has intensified the seriousness of regional tensions, especially given that Israel is considered the sole nuclear power in the Middle East. Both Israel and the U.S. have made the curtailment of any potential Iranian nuclear capabilities a primary objective in their military strategy.
The Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation has condemned the assault on Natanz, naming it a violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, while asserting that no radiation leakage was reported, nor was there a danger to local residents.
Given the historical context of targeting the Natanz facilities by U.S.-Israeli strikes, the situation continues to evolve amid ongoing military conflict, which began on February 28.
In a notable twist, when questioned about reports of a strike on Natanz, the Israel Defence Forces stated they were unaware of any attack in that area.
