Southern Israel residents reel after Iranian strikes near nuclear facility injure 180

RAMALLAH – 22 March 2026: Residents in southern Israel were left shaken after Iranian ballistic missile strikes on Saturday wounded at least 180 people in areas close to the country’s main nuclear research facility.

Israeli health authorities said on Sunday 116 people were injured in the city of Arad and 64 in Dimona city after missiles hit the towns on Saturday evening, causing heavy damage to several buildings.

Some of the wounded were reported to be in serious condition.

Iranian state television said the strikes were carried out in retaliation for an attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility earlier on Saturday.

Since the start of the Israel-US war in Iran on February 28, Tehran has launched around 400 missiles at Israel, the Israeli Air Force said, according to The Associated Press.

Roughly 92% of these attacks by Iran were intercepted, the air force added.

Residents in Arad described the explosions as terrifying, with the missile strike causing extensive damage to multiple buildings and leaving a large crater.