Iranian ballistic missiles struck two southern Israeli towns near the country’s main nuclear research facility on Saturday evening, injuring 180 people.
Israel’s Health Ministry said 116 people were injured in Arad and another 64 in Dimona after missiles hit the two Negev desert towns. Iranian state media said the strikes were carried out in response to an attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility earlier Saturday. Israel has denied responsibility for that strike.
Israel’s Dimona — this morning after Iran’s powerful attacks
Only the portrait of Netanyahu is still standing pic.twitter.com/MUKvj2O0cv
— RT (@RT_com) March 22, 2026
The strikes marked one of the most major Iranian attacks since the war began on Feb. 28. Authorities said it hit an area about 13 kilometers (eight miles) from Israel’s Dimona nuclear research facility.
IMPACT AFTERMATH: Mass casualties, injuries and widespread damage are reported after Iran targets Israeli cities Dimona and Arad with strikes. pic.twitter.com/sNZcFFSh3x
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 22, 2026
Israel is widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with nuclear weapons, although its leaders have never confirmed their existence.
In a post on X, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, said it had not received reports of damage to the research facility. “Information from regional States indicates that no abnormal radiation levels have been detected,” it added.
The IAEA is aware of reports of an incident in the city of Dimona, Israel, involving a missile impact and has not received any indication of damage to the nuclear research center Negev.
Information from regional States indicates that no abnormal radiation levels have been… pic.twitter.com/vJ6AlNHGmO
— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) March 21, 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attacks, saying Iran has again proven again that it is a danger to the world.
“If you want proof that Iran endangers the entire world, the last 48 hours have given it,” Netanyahu told reporters at the site of the Arad strike. “In the last 48 hours, Iran targeted a civilian area. They’re doing that as a mass murder weapon. Luckily, no one was killed, but that’s due to luck, not their intention. Their intention is to murder civilians.”
Netanyahu at Dimona impact site: “If anyone needed an explanation of why Iran is the enemy of civilization, and the enemy and the danger to the entire world, you got it in the last 48 hours.”
“They fired a terror weapon on civilians—on children!” pic.twitter.com/ALeNGMBbEQ
— Chris Menahan 🇺🇸 (@infolibnews) March 22, 2026
The Israeli Air Force said Tehran has launched roughly 400 missiles at Israel since the conflict started on Feb. 28. About 92% of which were intercepted.
Israeli officials said 14 people have been killed in Israel since the war began, while Iran reported a much higher toll, with over 1,400 deaths.
“We are determined to continue to strike our enemies on all fronts,” Netanyahu said.
