In a fresh escalation of the ongoing Middle East conflict, Iran launched a barrage of missiles at the Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad on Saturday night, injuring at least 100 people.
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, spokesperson for the Israeli military, confirmed that while Israel’s air defenses were operational, they failed to intercept the missiles. "We will investigate the incident and learn from it," he wrote in a post on X.
Dimona is home to Israel’s secretive nuclear reactor, located about 13 kilometers southeast of the city. Both Dimona and Arad are near several military sites, including Nevatim Air Base, one of Israel’s largest.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Arad's Mayor Yair Maayan, offering prayers for the injured. "This is a very difficult evening in the campaign for our future,” Netanyahu said. “I just spoke with Mayor Maayan and asked him to convey, on behalf of all Israeli citizens, our prayers for the injured."
The prime minister added that he had instructed the Director General of his office to coordinate assistance with relevant government ministries.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, saying, “The Iranian regime deliberately struck civilian areas in Arad and Dimona with missiles, resulting in over 100 injuries, including children. This is a blatant war crime—pure terrorism.”
In a statement on Sunday morning, Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) claimed responsibility for targeting "military installations" and "security centers" in southern Israel.
Major General Seyed Majid Moosavi, head of Iran's IRGC Aerospace Force, declared that Iran now controls the skies over what he called the “occupied territories.” He warned that future missile attacks would leave the US and Israel "dumbfounded."
"From this moment, I declare the missile dominance of Iran's sons over the skies of the occupied territories," Moosavi said. "The new tactics and launch systems in the upcoming waves will leave American-Zionist commanders stunned. Tonight, the skies over southern Israel will remain illuminated for hours."
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, also weighed in, calling Israel’s inability to intercept the missiles in the heavily fortified Dimona area a sign that the war had entered a new phase.
"Israel’s skies are defenseless," Ghalibaf said. "It seems the time has come to implement the next phase of our pre-designed plans. Happy Nowruz to the Iranian nation."
