Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to intensify action against Iran’s military leadership following a missile strike on southern Israeli towns, warning that those responsible would be directly targeted.
The prime minister made the declaration on Sunday during a visit to Arad, one of the towns hit by Iranian missiles a day earlier.
Inspecting the damage, Netanyahu said Israel would pursue members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), describing the group as a major threat.
He stressed that Israel’s response would extend beyond immediate retaliation, targeting leadership figures, infrastructure, and other strategic assets linked to Iran’s military operations.
Another town affected by the strike was Dimona, which is widely believed to host sensitive nuclear-related facilities.
The missile impact caused significant destruction, damaging buildings and leaving large craters in affected areas.
During his visit, Netanyahu urged residents to strictly follow safety directives issued by the military, particularly warnings from the Home Front Command.
He emphasised that the entire country remains on high alert, describing the situation as one in which all citizens are effectively on the frontline.
The missile attacks reportedly injured more than 100 people across the two towns, according to emergency responders.
In Arad alone, dozens were wounded, with several sustaining serious injuries, while additional casualties were recorded in Dimona.
Emergency teams were deployed swiftly, with rescue workers seen combing through debris in search of survivors.
Firefighters and medical personnel also responded to multiple scenes of destruction as efforts continued to assist victims.
Iranian state media indicated that the strikes were carried out in response to an earlier attack on a nuclear facility in Natanz, suggesting an escalation in the ongoing tensions between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military acknowledged that its air defence systems failed to intercept the incoming missiles.
Officials said an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the failure and to improve future response capabilities.
The latest developments mark a significant escalation in hostilities, raising concerns about broader regional instability as both sides signal readiness for further confrontation.
