Iranian Missile Attack in Israel Leaves at Least 10 Dead, Scores Injured

A wave of Iranian rocket fire swept across central and southern parts of Israel on Sunday morning, leaving at least 10 people dead and scores injured. At least six people were killed in the city of Bat Yam, including five Ukrainian nationals who were identified by Ukraine's foreign ministry as three minors.

The attacks came as a follow-up to an Israeli military operation launched on Friday against Iran's nuclear facilities and military leadership. The Iranian missile barrage left destruction and rubble in its wake, with at least six people killed and many more wounded in Bat Yam. In the nearby city of Rehovot, over 40 people were injured, including those who suffered severe damage to their homes.

Bat Yam is a predominantly Jewish city with a large immigrant community from the former Soviet Union. The majority of those killed in the attack were civilians, sparking widespread outrage and shock among residents and leaders alike. Bat Yam Mayor Doron Ben Asher described the scene as " absolute devastation" while calling for calm before declaring a state of siege.

The Israeli government said that six people were seriously wounded and another 22 were deemed to be in moderate condition according to Magen David Adom, the country's emergency service.

Eyewitness Michael Guberman recounted seeking shelter alongside his father on the sixth floor of their apartment complex in Bat Yam when suddenly the building shook. "There was a huge explosion," he said recalling the event. "The door flew off its hinges."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran for the attacks and used them to justify his government's original plan for war against Iran's nuclear ambitions, that Israel has become a double threat of annihilation.

Meanwhile, leaders from Israeli communities with large Arab populations voiced concerns that they too were at risk. Abdallah Hijazi, whose wife and daughter were lightly injured in the blast told The New York Times "we are stuck between the hammer and anvil. What happens to the Israelis happens to us."

The attacks also raised questions about Israel's ability to defend itself against highly accurate and dangerous ballistic missile fire from Iranian forces, as U.S President Joe Biden warned of potential dangers over a nuclear Iran.

Constant Méheut contributed reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine