A massive wave of 23 missiles fired from Iran on Friday afternoon left at least two people seriously injured—a teenage boy and a man in his 40s—amid widespread panic and destruction across Israel.
Air raid sirens were triggered in nearly every region of the country, from the northern Golan Heights and upper Galilee down to Eilat in the south, signaling the widespread reach of the attack.
Authorities confirmed at least five missile strikes that caused extensive physical damage in various areas.
Magen David Adom reported that one of the missiles struck Haifa, injuring 14 people. Emergency responders said a 16-year-old boy sustained a serious head injury, and a man in his 40s was also in serious condition after suffering heavy bleeding from a limb wound. Both were being transported to Rambam Hospital for urgent care.
In addition to those critical cases, a 40-year-old man was moderately hurt, a 54-year-old sustained injuries from shrapnel, and around ten more individuals were treated for minor wounds resulting from the blasts.
Among the damaged sites was a school located in central Israel, though details on injuries there were not immediately available.
Meanwhile, an El Al rescue flight returning from Bangkok was forced to remain airborne off Israel’s coast for nearly 50 minutes while the attack was underway. The aircraft circled repeatedly before receiving clearance to land safely.
Amid the assault, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei posted a message in Arabic on social media declaring, “The Zionist enemy is getting what it deserves, its punishment.”
{Matzav.com}