At least 88 wounded, 10 in serious condition after Iranian missile strikes Arad building

All injured were evacuated to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba for treatment, MDA said, adding that no one is currently trapped under the rubble, although search efforts continue.

At least 88 people were injured, including 10 in serious condition, after an Iranian ballistic missile hit a building in Arad, southern Israel, on Saturday evening.

A five-year-old child was among 10 seriously injured in the attack, MDA said, adding that 19 were in moderate condition, 55 were lightly injured and four were suffering from anxiety symptoms.

All the injured were evacuated by ambulance or helicopter to the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba for treatment, MDA said, adding that no one is currently trapped under the rubble.

Soroka declared a mass casualty event. Later in the evening, the Health Ministry announced that it would facilitate the transfer of some of the injured to other hospitals to ease the pressure on Soroka and ensure that the injured received appropriate care.

The MDA blood bank provided Soroka with at least 90 units of blood.

The Israeli military said Home Front Command search and rescue teams continue to operate at the scene after rushing to the site to assist in the evacuation of injured residents.

Sources also said the military was investigating why it failed to intercept the missile that struck the town, alongside another direct hit in Dimona earlier on Saturday.

Netanyahu: A very difficult evening in the battle for our future

Arad Mayor Yair Maayan noted that all those inside their shelters were unharmed during the strike.

“This has been a very difficult evening in the battle for our future,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday evening after the strike, adding that he offered his condolences to the injured and their families “on behalf of all the citizens of Israel.”

He said he had asked his office and all government ministries to provide “full necessary assistance” to those affected by the strike.

“We are determined to continue striking our enemies on all fronts,” he concluded.

IDF spokesperson Brigadier-General. Effie Defrin echoed Netanyahu’s words, offering her own wishes to the injured in Arad in a message on X/Twitter.

“Air defense systems were activated but did not intercept the missile,” Defrin wrote in his message, confirming earlier information. “We will investigate the incident and learn from it. This is not a special or different weapon than what we know.”

Following the strikes in Arad and Dimona, Education Minister Yoav Kisch canceled the return to face-to-face classes planned for Sunday across the country.

Avi Ashkenazi and Walla contributed to this report.