Iran fires missile barrage at Israel's nuclear hubs Arad, Dimona; over 100 injured, 11 critical

Tel Aviv (The Uttam Hindu): Iran has carried out a major missile attack on the nuclear city of Dimona and Arad in the southern cities of Israel. More than 100 people were injured in the Iranian attacks in the southern cities of Dimona and Arad. The condition of 11 of the injured is said to be critical. According to Israeli media, Israeli air defense failed to intercept at least two ballistic missiles in the rapid attack carried out by Iran. After the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel Defense Force Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir promised to continue fighting Israel's enemies on all fronts.

Those seriously injured in the attacks in the south included a 12-year-old boy wounded by shrapnel in an attack in Dimona and a 5-year-old girl injured in a subsequent attack in Arad, according to Israeli media outlet the Times of Israel. Iran launched several attacks in the Dimona area on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Iranian state media said the attacks targeted Israeli nuclear research facilities, located about 10 kilometers (six miles) from Dimona and 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) from Arad. The US and Israel have been carrying out attacks to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Therefore, the latest missile attack on Israeli nuclear facilities is being seen as retaliation by Iran.

The Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center is considered crucial to Israel's long-suspected nuclear weapons program, the existence of which Jerusalem neither confirms nor denies as a matter of policy.

Meanwhile, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said that in addition to the boy reported in critical condition in the Dimona strike, a 30-year-old woman was slightly injured by glass fragments and 31 other people were treated for minor injuries in the city. The injuries were mostly caused by shrapnel or while running for shelter. Another 14 people were treated for acute anxiety.

"There was extensive damage and chaos at the scene," MDA paramedic Carmel Cohen said in a statement. Beersheba's Soroka Medical Center said seven people injured in the attack were admitted for further medical treatment, including a seriously injured 12-year-old boy. The child was being treated in the trauma room. The remaining six were being treated in the surgical emergency room. Hours after the attack in Dimona, a similar scene of devastation was witnessed in nearby Arad. Several buildings were damaged after a ballistic missile struck Arad.

The MDA said its medical teams treated 71 people at the site of the attack and then transferred them to hospital. Ten of these people were seriously injured, including a 5-year-old girl. Thirteen others were reported to be in good condition, while 48 suffered minor injuries. Four more people were treated and taken to hospital.