A missile launched by Iran struck the port city of Haifa on Friday, injuring 23 people and damaging historic mosques. The attack, part of a broader Iranian missile barrage on its eighth day, forced residents into shelters and caused damage in the downtown area.
The Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency service said three of the injured in Haifa were seriously hurt, including a 16-year-old boy with upper body shrapnel wounds and two men aged 54 and 40 with injuries to their lower bodies. The other 20 individuals sustained light injuries. Rambam hospital in Haifa confirmed treating 19 of the injured, with one in serious condition.
Impact from Iran in Haifa, Israel today. Turn your sound on. pic.twitter.com/kTEBz5XQiz
— FUNKER530 (@FunkerActual) June 20, 2025
⚡️🚨 Full footage of the Haifa impact pic.twitter.com/Uas3KLfTXV
— Middle East Observer (@ME_Observer_) June 20, 2025
The missile strike also damaged two historic mosques in downtown Haifa. The Masjid Al-Saghir, established in 1761 by Zahir al-Umar, and the Al Jarina Grand Mosque, built in 1775 and expanded by the Ottoman Empire in 1901, both suffered structural damage.
Shockwaves from the blast destroyed stained glass windows and affected infrastructure at the Al Jarina site.
#Iran / #Israel 🇮🇷🇮🇱: Iranian Forces (#IRGC) launched a new wave of missiles and struck multiple locations in #Haifa.
The attack was carried out with possible “Emad” and “Shahab-3(A/B)” Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs). pic.twitter.com/RwiYhogRcl
— War Noir (@war_noir) June 20, 2025
Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav visited the scene and confirmed that “two strategic areas” in the city had been struck. He urged residents to strictly follow emergency instructions, expressing concern over the escalation.
Haifa is home to the Israeli Navy’s main base, which includes submarines and other naval assets, though it is unclear if these were also intended targets.
An Israeli military official said approximately 20 missiles were launched by Iran in Friday’s barrage, with explosions reported over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as well. In the northern city of Karmiel, one woman died of a heart attack while sheltering.
President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack in a post on X, calling it an “outrageous attack on a city that stands as a symbol of coexistence between Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, Circassians, and Bahá’ís.”
تعرّض مسجد الجرينة، في حي وادي النسناس بمدينة حيفا، لقصف صاروخي إيراني، أسفر عن إصابة عدد من رجال الدين والمصلين المسلمين أثناء تواجدهم داخل المسجد.
وقع هذا الهجوم الإجرامي في حيفا، المدينة التي تُجسّد رمزًا للتعايش بين اليهود، المسلمين، المسيحيين، الدروز، الشركس، والبهائيين.… pic.twitter.com/saZOCo78eQ
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) June 20, 2025
Iran has fired over 450 missiles and around 400 drones at Israel since hostilities began, according to Israel’s National Public Diplomacy Directorate.
The Israeli tax authority has received more than 25,000 claims for damage to buildings caused during the war.
Shipping operations have also been disrupted. Maersk, the international shipping company, suspended all movements to the Haifa port until further notice following Friday’s attack.
At least 25 people have been killed in Israel by Iranian missile strikes, Israeli authorities said. Iran claims that Israeli strikes have killed at least 224 individuals, including nuclear scientists, military commanders, and civilians, although Tehran has not updated that figure in recent days.
Both nations have accused each other of targeting civilian infrastructure during the ongoing conflict.
