It’s believed an Iranian missile has hit Dimona, Israel, in a revenge attack for strikes on its own nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz
Dozens of people have been injured in Israel after Iranian missile strikes targeted two areas near the country’s main nuclear research centre.
The Israeli military said its defences were not able to intercept missiles that hit the southern cities of Dimona and Arad. Several people were in serious condition.
“The war is not close to ending,” said Israel’s army chief, General Eyal Zamir, while Iran said it targeted Israel’s nuclear programme.
It’s believed to be a revenge attack after strikes on Iran’s own nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz. With little information coming out of Iran, it is not clear how much damage its arms, nuclear or energy facilities have sustained in the US and Israeli strikes that began on February 28.
Iran’s official news agency, Mizan, said there was no leakage after the strike on the Natanz nuclear facility, nearly 135 miles south east of Tehran. The UN nuclear watchdog has said the bulk of Iran’s estimated 970lb of enriched uranium is elsewhere, beneath the rubble at its Isfahan facility, with a lesser amount at Natanz. Israel’s military said it was “not aware” of a strike there by its own military.
The capital Tehran saw heavy air strikes overnight and into the morning, residents said, as thousands of worshippers converged on Tehran’s grand mosque for prayers marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said attacks would “increase significantly” next week. More than 1,500 people have been killed in Iran during the war, the state broadcaster said late Saturday.
It comes after Iran targeted Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands before the UK Government gave the US permission to strike missile sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, but it is not clear exactly when the two intermediate-range ballistic missiles were fired.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) declined to comment on when the attack was launched.
One of the missiles was shot down by a US warship while the other failed in flight, the Wall Street Journal reported.
The MoD condemned Iran’s attack on Diego Garcia. A spokesperson said: “Iran’s reckless attacks, lashing out across the region and holding hostage the Strait of Hormuz, are a threat to British interests and British allies. This Government has given permission to the US to use British bases for specific and limited defensive operations.”
