At least 40 injured after Iranian missile strikes Israeli town home to nuclear facility

At least 40 Injured After Iranian Missile Strikes Hit Israeli Town With Nuclear Facility

An Iranian missile attack struck the southern Israeli town of Dimona, a location housing a nuclear research center, resulting in at least 40 injuries, the Israeli military reported on Saturday. The strike targeted a residential area, leaving a 10-year-old boy with severe shrapnel wounds and a woman injured by flying glass, while 37 others were treated for minor trauma, as per the Magen David Adom emergency service’s X account.

Retaliation for Attack on Natanz

Iran’s state television asserted that the assault on Dimona was a response to a prior strike on its Natanz nuclear facility, situated approximately 50 kilometers from Kashan. The Israeli military stated it had no involvement in the Natanz attack, which occurred on the same day.

IAEA Assesses No Damage to Nuclear Center

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that its Negev nuclear research center remained undamaged, noting “no indication of harm to the facility” and “no abnormal radiation levels detected.” Despite this, the IAEA emphasized it is “closely monitoring the situation” to ensure ongoing safety.

Global Condemnation of Iranian Attacks

Following the strike, the G7 foreign ministers and the European Union issued a joint statement urging an “immediate and unconditional” cessation of Iran’s assaults on allies across the Middle East. They denounced the regime’s “reckless attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities,” in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Iraq.

Dimona, a desert city, serves as the hub for Israel’s primary nuclear research operations, which began in 1958. The town’s strategic importance has long been a subject of international debate, as Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its possession of nuclear weapons.