Iran escalates its campaign with deadly strikes on Arad and Dimona, marking a new phase following the Natanz nuclear facility attack.
Key Developments
- Israeli media report eight killed and over 100 injured in Arad after Iranian missile strike, with people trapped under rubble.
- Iranian officials declare “missile superiority over the skies of the occupied territories” amid expanding attacks on Dimona.
- Strikes explicitly framed as retaliation for US-Israeli attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility earlier today.
Deadly Strike in Arad
Israeli media reported on Saturday evening that at least eight people were killed and over 100 were injured following an Iranian missile strike in Arad, in southern Israel.
According to Israeli Channel 12, “the Israeli army’s rescue unit was called in due to the very large number of casualties in Arad,” as emergency teams rushed to the scene.
Israeli authorities declared a state of emergency amid fears of a high number of missing persons, with reports that “there are Israelis trapped under the rubble in Arad, and Magen David Adom is asking people to go to hospitals and donate blood.”
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority confirmed that “Israeli army forces are helping to extract injured people from under the rubble in Arad,” while rescue and civil defense teams continued operations across multiple sites.
⚡⭕️ ISRAELI POLICE: Southern Brigade commander warns damaged buildings could collapse at any moment following the rocket strike. pic.twitter.com/EvBPzW7qxQ
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) March 21, 2026
Israeli media further reported that “a hypersonic missile with half a ton of explosives hit Arad,” describing the incident as a major escalation in the scale and impact of the attacks.
In a second wave, Iranian missiles struck the city again, damaging nine buildings, four of which collapsed completely, with Israeli media describing the scene as a “disaster.”
Dimona Also Targeted
Simultaneously, Israeli media reported dozens of injuries in Dimona, in the Naqab (Negev), after missile strikes hit multiple locations.
The Israeli ambulance service said the number of injured rose to 51, while Channel 12 confirmed that injuries were recorded in 12 separate locations due to missile impacts and shrapnel.
Israeli radio reported that a building collapsed after a direct hit, while local authorities confirmed injuries across several areas of the city.
Despite claims of interceptions, Israeli media acknowledged that some missiles penetrated defenses, with reports that interception attempts failed in at least one case, allowing a missile weighing hundreds of kilograms to strike directly.
‘Missile Superiority’ Declared
Iranian officials framed the attacks as a turning point in the confrontation.
The commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Brigadier General Majid Mousavi, declared: “From this moment, I declare Iran’s missile superiority over the skies of the occupied territories.”
🚨⭕️ CHANNEL 12: More than 100 injured in Arad after Iranian missile strike, including serious cases, with people trapped under the rubble of two buildings.
⚠️⭕️ ISRAELI MEDIA: Confusion and major discrepancies reported in injury figures and damage assessments following the Arad… pic.twitter.com/lSxbP1OVn9
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) March 21, 2026
He added that “the skies over the occupied southern territories will remain illuminated for hours tonight,” warning that “the new tactics and launch systems used in the coming waves will terrify the Zionist and American leaders.”
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the inability to intercept missiles over Dimona indicated that the confrontation had entered a new phase, stating that “the entity’s skies are not protected,” and that “the time has come to implement the next pre-prepared plans.”
Retaliation for Natanz Strike
Iranian state media explicitly linked the attacks to the US-Israeli strike on the Natanz nuclear facility earlier on Saturday.
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirmed that “the Natanz uranium enrichment complex was targeted this morning,” describing it as part of “criminal attacks” carried out by the United States and Israel.
Iranian military leadership signaled a broader escalation, with the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters warning: “If they strike our infrastructure, we will respond by striking more important and greater infrastructure.”
⚡⭕️ WATCH: The moment an Iranian missile directly hits Arad without interception, causing heavy human and material losses, according to initial reports. pic.twitter.com/2kiSaeYM1D
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) March 21, 2026
Wave 72 and Expanding Fronts
Iranian state television later announced the launch of Wave 72, targeting sites in Israel as well as the US Fifth Fleet.
The IRGC said it used “powerful, deadly, and accurate missiles of the (Qadr) and (Emad) types,” while emphasizing that its “developed local systems, offensive and defensive, will achieve greater accomplishments.”
On the defensive front, Iranian authorities reported that air defenses targeted an Israeli F-16 fighter jet in central Iran, while also claiming the downing of an enemy drone over Tehran.
According to Iranian sources, more than 127 advanced drones have been destroyed since the start of the war, as Tehran signaled that further escalation remains likely.
(PC, Al-Jazeera, Al Mayadeen, Israeli media)
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I WONDER IF…the ACCURSED zionists are feeling any regret for the victims of their GENOCIDE in GAZA…..TONIGHT?………..NOW that the ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN IS FEEDING them SOME of their own BITTER medicine……..