【Wen/Observer Net Wang Kaiwen】The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran entered its fourth week. On March 21st, Iran launched multiple missiles toward southern Israel at local time. Some missiles penetrated Israel's air defense system and hit residential areas.

According to Ynet News and The Times of Israel, among Israeli media reports, on the evening of the 21st, the southern Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad were attacked by Iranian ballistic missiles, causing over 100 people injured. Israel's air defense system failed to intercept twice.

According to Israeli media reports, in the evening of the 21st, a warhead weighing about 450 kilograms directly hit a residential area in Arad, causing 71 people injured, including 10 with serious injuries, one of whom was a 5-year-old girl.

Rescue workers said that the attack in Arad caused extensive damage to at least 10 apartment buildings, three of which were seriously damaged and had the risk of collapse.

March 21, in the southern Israeli city of Arad, rescue workers at the site of an Iranian ballistic missile attack. Israel Defense Forces

Several hours earlier, another Iranian ballistic missile hit Dimona, causing 59 people injured.

Iranian state media said that the target of this attack was Israel's nuclear research center. Dimona is located about 20 kilometers west of the nuclear research center, while Arad is about 35 kilometers north of it.

This operation is said to be retaliation for an earlier US-Israeli attack on Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility. AP reported that this was the first time Israel's nuclear research facility became a target in this conflict.

Israel is the only non-signatory country of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in the Middle East and is believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with nuclear weapons. For this, Israel has always neither confirmed nor denied. The International Atomic Energy Agency said that it has not received reports of damage to Israel's nuclear research center or abnormal radiation levels.

According to reports, the Israeli Air Force is investigating the reasons for failing to intercept two ballistic missiles. The military confirmed that their air defense system attempted to intercept these two missiles but failed to shoot them down.

"The air defense system has been activated, but it failed to intercept the missile. We will investigate this incident and learn from it," said Efri Deverlin, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, on social media, and pointed out that these two missiles are not new missiles as claimed by Iran, "this is not a special or unfamiliar type of ammunition."

Ron Ben-Ishai, a defense analyst from Ynet News, said that the missiles used in these two attacks clearly have high precision, possibly the Iranian "Emad" missile, which has been used by Iran in previous attacks against Israel, such as the April 2024 attack on the Neve Tzuf Air Force Base.

March 21, an Iranian ballistic missile struck the southern Israeli city of Dimona. Israel Defense Forces

Ynet News analysis states that during these two attacks, the Israeli military likely initially used the "Arrow" anti-missile system for interception, a long-range ballistic missile defense system, with the interception location possibly in Jordan's airspace, but obviously failed. Afterward, the Israeli military tried to use the "Iron Dome" short-range air defense system for interception, but from the footage, the speed of the interception missiles seemed slower than the ballistic missiles.

The report questioned why these interceptions failed, why so many people were exposed to danger, and whether the authorities issued timely alerts, and these issues need answers.

Video screenshot of an Iranian missile hitting Dimona

The Israel Hayom website cited the Israel Defense Forces saying, "Defense is not foolproof."

"It was a very difficult night," said Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who spoke with mayors of Dimona and Arad and called for government departments to provide all necessary assistance to these two cities.

"We will continue to firmly strike our enemies on all fronts," said Netanyahu.

Ali Akbar Velayati, head of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran, stated on social platforms, "If the Israeli regime cannot intercept missiles in the well-protected Dimona area, then from a combat perspective, this marks a new phase of the battle."

"Israel's airspace is vulnerable," wrote Velayati.

According to Iranian media reports, earlier on the 21st, Israel and the United States attacked Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility. The reports said that there was no radioactive leakage at the facility, and nearby residents were not threatened.

The Pentagon refused to comment on the attack on Natanz, and Israel denied involvement.

This article is exclusive to Observer Net and may not be reprinted without permission.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7619895433036448306/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.