An Iranian missile strike has hit the town of Dimona in southern Israel, near to a nuclear facility. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was not aware of any damage to the nuclear research facility located about eight miles (13km) outside Dimona.
Iranian state TV stated that the strike was in response to a reported attack on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility earlier on Saturday. The IAEA confirmed there was 'no increase in off-site radiation levels' after that incident.
Rafael Grossi, the IAEA's director general, called for 'maximum military restraint' especially near nuclear facilities.
Israel's ambulance service reported treating 40 individuals after the strike in Dimona, with 37 mild injuries and a serious case involving a 10-year-old boy. Additionally, another strike in the nearby town of Arad resulted in 68 others being treated, with various degrees of injuries reported.
Emergency medical technician Yakir Talkar described the scene in Arad as 'very severe,' indicating many wounds of differing severity. Investigations are underway concerning how missiles penetrated Israel's air defense systems.
Emergency responders noted that interceptors were launched but failed to neutralize the threats, leading to direct hits by ballistic missiles with heavy warheads.
The Shimon Peres Negev Nuclear Research Center, colloquially known as the 'Dimona reactor,' is often speculated to house Israel's undeclared nuclear arsenal, leading Israel to regard any attacks on it as of utmost seriousness.
The ongoing conflict has heightened Israel's and the US's focus on eliminating any potential Iranian nuclear capabilities.
Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) condemned the attack on Natanz as a violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons but stated that there were no concerns regarding radioactive material leakage. Natanz has faced attacks previously during the ongoing conflict that began on 28 February.
The Israeli Defense Forces have stated they have no knowledge of any strikes on Natanz.
