Iran Drone Shot Down Deep inside Israeli Airspace; Yemen Missile Triggers Alarms, Falls Short

At least eight people were killed and hundreds injured early Monday as a massive Iranian missile strike pummeled multiple cities across Israel, with direct hits reported in Tel Aviv, Petah Tikva, Bnei Brak and Haifa.

In Petah Tikva, four people were killed after an Iranian missile struck a residential tower. Despite taking shelter in a fortified room, three elderly residents—two women and one man in their 70s—were fatally injured when the missile made a direct hit.

Hours later, rescue crews recovered the body of a man in his 80s from the wreckage of another building in nearby Bnei Brak, where a school was also damaged. 

Magen David Adom [MDA] paramedic David Suissa, who assisted in rescue efforts there, said, “We found the man unconscious and trapped. Despite medical checks, we had to pronounce him dead at the scene.”

In Haifa, a missile struck another residential area, where three individuals previously reported missing were later found dead under the rubble. 

Medical teams responded to distressing scenes. In one case, friends of the newborn's mother brought the baby to emergency crews for examination. One medic checked his breathing and asked the women to stay with him until the mother arrived. Minutes later, she rushed over, still in pain from recent surgery, saying she had been delayed retrieving medications.

One of the missiles exploded near the US Embassy compound. Ambassador Mike Huckabee confirmed that the US Embassy and consulate would remain closed under ongoing shelter-in-place orders. “Some minor damage from concussions of Iranian missile hits near the Embassy Branch in Tel Aviv,” Huckabee said, “but no injuries to US personnel.” 

In Petah Tikva, MDA medic Alon Weiss described rescuing a mother and her one-year-old baby from a heavily damaged 20-story building. “They were in the safe room when the missile hit,” he said. “I helped them reach a safe location and, thankfully, they didn’t require further medical treatment.”

By Monday morning, hospitals across Israel had received 287 people injured in the overnight strikes. According to health officials, one person was in serious condition, 13 were moderately wounded, 240 suffered light injuries and 11 were treated for shock. Another 25 were undergoing further evaluation. The Health Ministry directed clinics and mental health centers to boost psychological support services to reduce non-essential hospital visits. 

Defense Minister Israel Katz declared, “The boastful dictator in Tehran has become a cowardly murderer, deliberately targeting Israeli civilians to deter the IDF from continuing its campaign—which is collapsing Iran’s capabilities. The people of Tehran will pay the price—and soon.”

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes on Iran continued in retaliation. Officials said the IDF targeted key Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities in Tehran. 

 The IDF alerted everyone in Israel to remain near shelters ahead of an expected missile attack, after reports in Iran that Israeli fighters attacked the underground uranium enrichment facility at Fordow. Authorities later reported that two more bodies were pulled out from the site of Saturday's Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, raising the death toll to nine.

Earlier, Home Front Command issued updated safety instructions for residents across several regions, including Tel Aviv and the Dan region, Jerusalem, the Shephelah, the Sharon, Judea and Samaria, the Yarkon area, Lachish, the Jordan Valley and Beit She'an, urging them to remain close to protected shelters ahead of an impending attack from Iran. Even after more than an hour, the IDF said the order is in place until further notice. 

The IDF advised minimizing public movement and avoiding gatherings. “Upon hearing a warning siren, enter a protected space immediately and remain there until an official update is issued,” the statement said.

Shortly after the alert, the military announced that the Israeli Air Force was actively striking surface-to-surface missile sites in central Iran in what appears to be a preemptive operation.

Iranian media reported that air defense systems were activated near key nuclear and military sites in Isfahan, Qom and Parchin, just prior to expected missile launches toward Israel.

Meanwhile, a senior official told Reuters that Iran has informed Qatari and Omani mediators it will not enter ceasefire negotiations with Israel while strikes on its territory continue. The official said Tehran would only consider “serious talks” after completing its response to Israeli attacks.