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3. Iranian Missile Strike Hits Israel, Killing at Least Nine

At least nine people were killed and more than 20 injured after an Iranian missile struck the city of Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem on Sunday, in what Israeli authorities described as one of the deadliest single impacts since the war began.

Emergency services confirmed that 23 people were wounded, several of them in critical condition, while approximately 20 individuals remain missing beneath the rubble as search-and-rescue operations continue.

Direct Hit on Civilian Area

According to Israeli officials, the missile caused the collapse of four buildings in the city. The mayor of Beit Shemesh said the projectile directly struck a public shelter, intensifying the scale of casualties.

Israel’s Home Front Command deployed large rescue and recovery teams to the scene. Search units are working to locate survivors trapped under debris, while medical crews continue evacuating the injured.

Local police officials confirmed that at least one individual remains unaccounted for, and authorities have not ruled out an increase in the death toll as operations progress.

Israeli media reported that warning sirens were reportedly not activated in Beit Shemesh prior to the strike, a development likely to prompt further investigation into air defense alert systems.

Largest Iranian Missile Wave So Far

The strike occurred as Iran launched what Israeli military sources described as the largest missile barrage since the beginning of the confrontation.

According to reports, 38 missiles were fired toward Israel in a single wave.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps characterized the attack as part of its ongoing retaliation following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes. Air defense systems were activated across central Israel as multiple impacts were reported. Residents were ordered into shelters repeatedly throughout the day.

Casualty Figures Under Review

Israel’s national emergency service initially reported four fatalities and approximately 16 injuries near a synagogue in the city. However, updated figures from field responders and local authorities later confirmed at least nine deaths and over 20 injuries.

The discrepancy reflects the rapidly evolving situation at the strike site, where rescue operations remain ongoing.

Escalation Enters Deadlier Phase

The Beit Shemesh strike marks a significant escalation in the conflict’s civilian toll inside Israel. Previous waves had caused injuries and structural damage, but Sunday’s impact represents one of the highest single-site casualty counts since hostilities intensified.

Israeli officials have not yet announced the scope of potential retaliation, though military sources indicated that additional operations against targets in Tehran and other Iranian locations remain underway.