Jerusalem: At least 47 people were injured on Saturday evening after an Iranian missile struck the southern Israeli town of Dimona, home to its nuclear centre and popularly known as "Little India," rescue services reported.
Among the injured was a 12-year-old boy in serious condition after being struck by shrapnel, according to officials from the Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue services and local residents. A woman in her 30s suffered moderate injuries from glass shards, while 31 others sustained minor injuries from shrapnel or fell while rushing to shelters. Another 14 individuals were treated for acute anxiety at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba.
A local resident said, “The missile fell on a community building, and nearby older houses collapsed under the impact. Most people were in shelters, so they were not badly hurt, except for the young boy who stayed outside.”
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it is investigating the failure to intercept the Iranian ballistic missile. The army noted that while air defences engaged the missile, the interceptors failed to neutralise it. “The incident will be investigated,” the IDF said.
Following the attack, the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), called for “maximum military restraint.” In a post on X, the IAEA stated: “The agency 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 Negev nuclear research center.”
Iran claimed the missile strike on Dimona was a “response” to an earlier strike on the Natanz nuclear enrichment site. However, the IDF denied any involvement in the earlier Natanz incident.
Dimona is home to a large Indian-Jewish population, mostly from Maharashtra, which has strengthened ties with India over the years, earning the town its nickname, "Little India." Indian shops are scattered across the town, Marathi is widely spoken, and the 7,500-strong Indian community makes up roughly 30 per cent of the population. Cricket is popular among the youth, who are also familiar with Indian snacks such as sonpapdi, gulab jamun, papri chaat, and bhelpuri, sold in local shops.
With PTI inputs