An Iranian ballistic missile struck a residential neighborhood in Beit Shemesh, a city located west of Jerusalem, on Saturday. The missile made direct impact on a public bomb shelter where civilians had gathered for protection. A synagogue in the area was also destroyed in the attack.
Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service, confirmed that eight victims died at the scene. A ninth victim later succumbed to injuries. Additionally, twenty-eight people sustained injuries and received transport to hospitals for treatment. Among the injured was a four-year-old child who underwent medical care.
Police officials stated that most of the deceased were inside the shelter at the time of impact.
Search and rescue teams worked through the rubble to locate survivors and recover victims. Helicopters evacuated wounded individuals from the scene to medical facilities.
The attack occurred amid escalating military operations between Iran and Israel. Earlier on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that the United States and Israel launched joint missile strikes against Iranian military targets. Iran responded with missile attacks on U.S. military bases across the Middle East, including facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.
The Beit Shemesh strike represented the deadliest single attack on Israeli territory during the current conflict with Iran.
Magen David Adom reported the casualty figures and confirmed the medical response to the incident. Police officials provided details about the location of the victims at the time of impact.
The Israeli military had previously warned residents of Beit Shemesh to seek shelter immediately before the missile struck.
