At least 47 people were wounded Saturday evening when an Iranian ballistic missile struck the southern Israeli town of Dimona, rescue services said. The town, known for the dome-shaped structure atop its nuclear facility and nicknamed Little India, suffered multiple casualties and property damage.
Magen David Adom (MDA) officials and residents reported a 12-year-old boy in serious condition after being struck by shrapnel. A woman in her 30s sustained moderate injuries from glass fragments, while 31 others suffered minor shrapnel wounds or were hurt after falling while running to shelters. Fourteen people were treated for acute anxiety at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba.
A local resident said the missile hit a community building and that older nearby houses collapsed under the impact. Most residents had taken shelter and avoided serious harm, the resident added, except for the boy who had been outside.
The Israel Defence Forces said it is investigating why the missile was not intercepted. The army reported that air defences engaged the incoming projectile but that interceptors failed to bring it down, and that the incident will be reviewed.
The International Atomic Energy Agency urged maximum military restraint and said it had seen reports of a missile impact in Dimona but had not received indications of damage to the Negev nuclear research center.
Iran said it targeted Dimona in response to an earlier strike on the Natanz enrichment site; the IDF denied responsibility for that Natanz incident.
Dimona is home to a sizable Indian-Jewish community, many from Maharashtra, which gives the town its Little India nickname. Around 7,500 Indian-origin residents make up roughly 30 percent of the town, with Marathi commonly spoken, Indian shops and snacks widely available, and cricket a popular pastime.
