Beit Shemesh hit in deadly Iranian missile strike as regional attacks spread
An Iranian ballistic missile struck the central Israeli city of beit shemesh, killing at least nine people and leaving dozens more injured, emergency services and medical teams say. The strike came amid a wave of retaliatory attacks launched by Iran after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a series of actions that has already grounded thousands of flights and spread clashes across the Gulf.
Beit Shemesh: search-and-rescue and damage at the impact site
Rescue teams described a scene of destruction at the point of impact: a synagogue where people were sheltering was hit and the building was completely destroyed, leaving piles of broken concrete, twisted metal and a huge crater, with nearby cars blown apart. Dozens of rescuers were at the scene searching for people feared trapped under the rubble. Police say 11 people are still missing and the search is ongoing.
The Magen David Adom emergency service gave a toll of nine dead and 28 injured, including two people in serious condition, while wider emergency services put the number of injured at 27. The Israeli military said search-and-rescue teams and a helicopter were operating in Beit Shemesh to evacuate the wounded, and an army spokesperson said the circumstances of the ballistic missile impact were under review. Magen David Adom paramedic Dror Eini described destroyed homes, flames and smoke, wrecked cars and significant chaos at the scene.
Residents and officials raised questions about wartime alerts; there are concerns that sirens did not sound in some areas at the time of the strike. What makes this notable is that the attack has produced Israel’s highest casualty count since the wider set of strikes began, heightening immediate fears that the toll could rise while rescue operations continue.
Regional attacks: Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait and airport damage
The missile and drone campaign extended beyond Israel. One person was killed in Abu Dhabi and another death was reported in Kuwait. In Bahrain, a drone strike near the US Navy’s 5th Fleet base caused a major fire after a drone hit close to a British naval facility adjoining the American base; there were no immediate reports of casualties but four people have been wounded in Bahrain by Iranian attacks overall.
Video from the region showed debris across the floor of a damaged Dubai airport, and authorities in Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait intercepted missiles fired toward their territories; those interceptions produced falling debris that caused additional damage. A warehouse at a French naval base adjacent to the Emirati base was struck in a drone attack; French armed forces minister Catherine Vautrin said the damage was purely material and limited, with no injuries, and that vigilance was at maximum.
Mein Schiff 4 passengers and Port Zayed explosion
German tourists aboard the cruise ship Mein Schiff 4, docked in Port Zayed, Abu Dhabi, said they watched black smoke billow after a large explosion midday on Sunday. The defense minister said two Iranian drones struck a storage facility near the Al Salam marine base, igniting two containers. Passengers described receiving an emergency message at 4. 30pm telling them to gather in the ship’s theater, and the crew advised everyone to stay inside and avoid windows; balconies and decks were ordered closed. The ship was operating a seven-day itinerary called 'Magic of the Orient', a cruise that in standard class had been sold at Euro 899 per person and was scheduled to stop in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Khasab, Muscat, Doha and Dubai.
Militant and military escalations: Hezbollah and Israeli intercepts
Hezbollah said it launched rockets and drones at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the Israel Defense Forces accused Iran of directly firing missiles toward Beit Shemesh, killing civilians sheltering from the raids. Missile attacks continued into Sunday evening; most were intercepted, but one fell on a street in the Jerusalem area, injuring at least three people. Commentators noted the risk created when missiles travel long distances and require multilayered defenses, increasing the likelihood of damage from interceptions and debris.
