The missile hit the center of Arad between residential buildings on the night from Saturday to Sunday. Magen David Adom (Red Star of David) reported that at least 65 people were injured, and seven of them were in serious condition and required immediate medical attention.
The fire brigade reported extensive damage to building structures in the vicinity of the explosion site.
A local medical facility in Arad declared a state of emergency due to the influx of injured people, the Israeli ambulance service said. Doctors and nurses worked to stabilize the injured, whose number exceeded the capacity of the hospital's standard services.
Interception system failure under military scrutiny
The Israeli Air Force has launched an investigation into the failure of the interceptor system, reports the Times of Israel. Military analysts are investigating why the missile was not neutralized before reaching its target in the city center.
According to preliminary findings, the missile was equipped with a conventional warhead containing hundreds of kilograms of explosives. The force of the explosion was enough to cause serious damage to civilian infrastructure and numerous casualties among residents.
The Home Front Command is also investigating a separate attack in Dimona, where 54 people were injured. The city is known for the presence of an Israeli nuclear reactor and a research center dealing with nuclear technology.
Binyamin Netanyahu reacts
The Prime Minister of Israel reacted to the tragic event. “This is a very difficult evening in the fight for our future. I recently spoke with the mayor of Arad, Jair Mayan, and asked him to convey our prayers for peace for the wounded on behalf of all Israeli citizens,” he wrote on X.
