At least eight people were killed and more than two dozen injured after a direct missile strike hit a residential building in the central Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, approximately 35 kilometres west of Jerusalem, rescue authorities confirmed..
Emergency officials said the missile struck a densely populated residential area, causing severe structural damage to a public bomb shelter and several adjoining houses. The impact resulted in the deaths of eight individuals at the scene, raising the overall toll in Israel under reported Iranian missile fire since Saturday to nine.
According to the national emergency service Magen David Adom, two people, including a young girl, are in serious condition. At least 20 others sustained light to moderate injuries. Among the injured is a four year old boy who suffered moderate wounds and was shifted to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Firefighting and search teams continued operations at the site amid concerns that additional people could be trapped under debris. Officials said several dozen houses in the vicinity of the directly hit structure also sustained varying degrees of damage due to the blast impact.
The strike follows escalating hostilities in the region. Israel and the United States reportedly carried out joint military strikes on Iran early Saturday. The Israel Defense Forces stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an airstrike in Tehran the same day, a development that has significantly intensified regional tensions.
Authorities in Israel said the country has since come under sustained missile fire, with security forces remaining on high alert across major cities. [KNT]
