Nearly 50 injured in Iranian strike on Dimona, Israel

Nearly 50 people have been injured after an Iranian ballistic missile struck Dimona, Israel, according to Israeli emergency services. The U.N. nuclear watchdog said it had received no indication that the city’s nuclear research center was damaged.

The strike happened on Saturday in Dimona, a southern Israeli city that is home to the Negev nuclear research center, Israel’s main nuclear facility. The strike caused significant damage at an apartment building.

Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical service, said 47 people were taken to a hospital, including a 10-year-old boy who was seriously injured by shrapnel. A woman in her 30s was moderately injured by shattered glass, while 31 others suffered light injuries from shrapnel or were hurt while running to shelter.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was aware of reports of a missile impact in Dimona and had not received any indication of damage to the nuclear research center. It also said information from regional states showed no abnormal radiation levels had been detected.

“IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reiterates call for military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident,” the U.N. nuclear watchdog said in a statement.

Iran said the strike on Dimona was a response to an earlier attack on the Natanz nuclear site in Iran, though the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) denied responsibility.