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Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
‘The shelter was full': Israelis confront unprecedented missile barrages
Tel Aviv, Israel – For the fourth night in a row, missiles have hit Israeli cities. Iran's retaliatory strikes, triggered by Israeli attacks, saw people sheltering in stairwells and bomb shelters as the scale of the damage and Iranian rockets managing to penetrate one of the world's most sophisticated defence systems have left many reeling. On Friday, Israel began its assault on Iran, targeting military and nuclear facilities and killing high-profile security, intelligence and military commanders as well as scientists. Israel's attacks, which have also targeted residential areas, have killed more than 224 people and wounded at least 1,481, according to Iranian authorities. The government said most of those killed and wounded have been civilians. In response, Iran has fired barrages of missiles towards Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities. Hundreds of Iranian missiles have been launched since Friday, and Israel's air defence systems, though robust, have been unable to stop all of them. While the number of missiles fired by Iran appears to have gone down on a night-by-night basis, the scale of the attacks continues to be unprecedented for Israelis. Central Tel Aviv, Haifa, the scientific hub of Rehovot and homes have been struck. At least 24 people in Israel have been killed in the strikes and hundreds wounded. The Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, a source of national pride and a cornerstone of Israeli military research, was among the hardest hit. Its laboratories were torn open, glass panes shattered, and cables and rebar left dangling. 'This isn't just damage to buildings,' said Jenia Kerimov, 34, a biology PhD candidate who lives nearby. 'It's years of research, equipment we can't easily replace, data that might be lost forever.' She had been in a bomb shelter a block away when the institute was struck. 'We're supposed to be helping protect the country. But now even our work, our home, feels exposed.' Shelters across the country are packed. In older neighbourhoods without bunkers, residents crowd into communal safe rooms. In Tel Aviv and West Jerusalem, stairwells have become makeshift bedrooms. The Israeli military's Home Front Command has evacuated hundreds of people to hotels after buildings that were hit were deemed uninhabitable. Yacov Shemesh, a retired social worker in West Jerusalem, said his wife has been sleeping on the stairs in their apartment block since the attacks began. 'There's no shelter in our building,' the 74-year-old explained. 'I went to the roof Sunday night to see what was happening. I saw a flash in the sky and then a boom. But I couldn't find anything in the news. Maybe they [the state] don't want us to know how close it came.' The barrage has triggered panic in a society long shaped by conflict – but where, until now, the destruction and wars were inflicted elsewhere – in Gaza, Jenin or southern Lebanon. Now, many Israelis are being confronted with destruction in their home cities for the first time. In Tel Aviv, long lines snaked through the aisles of a grocery store. Despite being crowded, the atmosphere was hushed as customers tapped their phones, their faces drawn tight. Gil Simchon, 38, a farmer from near the Ramat David Airbase, east of Haifa, stacked bottles of water in his arms. 'It's one thing to hear for decades about the Iranian threat,' he said, 'but another to see it with your own eyes – to see high rises in Tel Aviv hit.' On Monday night, he used a bomb shelter for the first time in his life. Even the Kirya, Israel's military headquarters in Tel Aviv, was struck although damage was limited. Iran's ability to hit such a fortified and symbolically vital target has deeply rattled a population raised on the reliability of its multilayered defence architecture. While much of Israel is covered by the Iron Dome, David's Sling and Arrow defence systems, officials admit these were not designed for a saturation attack involving ballistic missiles with heavy warheads. 'These aren't homemade rockets from Gaza,' one analyst said on Israeli television. 'These are battlefield weapons.' On Saturday night, the streets of West Jerusalem were quiet. One of the few lit spaces was a gym. Its owner gestured to the staircase descending underground. 'We're protected,' he said. Then with a smile, he added, 'Gymgoers are crazy. If you're working out at night, the gym had better be open.' Outside, the night air buzzed with tension. A neon sign flared against the darkness. A small group gathered, eyes fixed on the sky. Moments earlier, streaks of light had passed overhead. 'They're headed somewhere else – Haifa, I think,' a young man muttered. Minutes later, sirens wailed. Video soon appeared online showing flames erupting from a gas installation near Haifa. Initially, social media was flooded with footage of missile impacts – some from residential balconies, others from dashcams. By the third night, multiple reports were published of people being arrested for documenting the attacks while Israeli officials warned foreign media against breaking a ban on broadcasting such content, describing it as a security offence. Meanwhile, fears of power outages are growing. In Tel Aviv, drivers queued at petrol stations, anxious to keep their tanks full. A father strapped his children into the back seat before speeding away. His eyes flicked to the clouds, then the rear-view mirror. For some Israelis abroad, a feeling of helplessness has deepened. Eran, 37, who lives and works in New York, spoke to his elderly parents near the city of Beit Shemesh. 'They've gone to shelters before, but this time, the fear was different,' he tells Al Jazeera. 'The shelter was full. When they returned home, they found pieces of interceptor debris in the yard.' Eran, a former conscientious objector who refused Israel's mandatory military draft – for which he spent time in jail – and asked to use a pseudonym for fear of state reprisal upon his return to Israel, has long been critical of Israeli policies. Now watching his family in danger, he feels more certain than ever. 'Israel claims to act for all Jews,' he said. 'But its crimes in Gaza and elsewhere just bring danger to families like mine. Even in New York, it impacts me.' For others, the picture is murkier. 'I don't know any more where the line is between protecting ourselves and making it worse,' Gil said. 'You grow up believing we're defending something. But now, the missiles, the shelters, the fear – it feels like a cycle we can't see out of.' The Israeli government, meanwhile, has struck a belligerent tone, promising to make Tehran 'pay a heavy price'. But in the shelters, tension is mixed with exhaustion and a growing recognition that something fundamental has changed. 'It's like the feeling of a meat lover after they visit a meat-packing factory,' Gil said quietly. 'You grow up on it, you believe in it – but when you see how it's made, it makes you uneasy.' This piece was published in collaboration with Egab.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Odisha PhD student in Israel fears for safety amid Iran conflict
Rourkela: A doctoral student from Odisha finds himself in the crossfire of the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. Satyaranjan Biswal (29), a fifth-year PhD student in chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is just three months from completing his doctorate, and is deeply concerned about his safety. "For the first time, areas around the university have come under direct attack," Biswal told TOI over phone from Israel. Living in the university dormitory equipped with emergency bunkers, Biswal described the situation as more threatening than the October 2023 terrorist attacks. "The recent rocket strike on Rehovot and injuries to researchers at the Weizmann Institute have deeply shaken the academic community," said Biswal, who was evacuated to India under 'Operation Ajay' during the 2023 Israel-Hamas war and later went back to Israel to continue his studies. The university has for now suspended all academic activities till June 30, said Biswal, a native of Puri district. The Indian Embassy has, meanwhile, urged all Indian nationals in Israel to remain vigilant as tension with Iran escalates.
Wall Street Journal
4 days ago
- Science
- Wall Street Journal
Israel's Weizmann Institute Buildings Damaged in Iran Attack
Several buildings in Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science, one of the country's top research centers, were damaged in an Iranian strike but there were no casualties, its management told its community members. As a result of missile strikes early this morning in the city of Rehovot, where the institute is located, there were localized impacts to structures on campus, it said. The institute is a world-renowned research center known for cutting-edge work in chemistry, physics and biomedical science. One graduate student whose home is located near the institute said she heard some very loud booms and then an impact that violently shook her bomb shelter.
Euronews
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
What do we know about Israel's Weizmann Institute?
In a dangerous development in the mutual escalation between Iran and Israel, an Iranian missile hit the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, south of Tel Aviv, at dawn on Sunday. The Weizmann Institute is one of the most important scientific centres in Israel and the world. Its roots date back to 1934, when it was founded by Chaim Weizmann under the name "Daniel Seif Research", before it was renamed in 1949 after its founder, who later became the first president of Israel. Today, the institute is home to some 2,500 researchers and staff and offers advanced master's and doctoral programmes in fields including mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, biology and computer science. It has more than 30 scientific laboratories, a huge library, as well as residential and lecture facilities. But the institute is not just an academic facility; it is seen as part of Israel's national security infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in supporting the military through advanced research and technology. The Weizmann Institute is one of the pillars of technological innovation in Israel, directly contributing to the development of complex military systems, including: - Artificial intelligence for data analysis and combat guidance. - Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies and autonomous systems. - Advanced electronic tracking and jamming tools. - Alternative GPS navigation systems. - Protection of military codes. - Encrypted communication in hostile environments. - Research in directed energy and nuclear applications. - Development of field treatments for injured soldiers. These activities partly explain why the institute is considered a strategic target for Tehran, especially after recent Israeli strikes on military facilities and prominent Iranian scientists. It is notable that theIsraeli media did not show pictures or share accurate details about the extent of the damage, in accordance with strict instructions from the military censors that prevent the disclosure of injuries or damage to sensitive facilities. This reticence reflects the extent of the security embarrassment resulting from the breach of air defences, and highlights the vulnerability of Israeli infrastructure to precise attacks. The institute is generously funded by the Israeli government, in addition to significant support from international organisations, which enhances its ability to attract minds and develop projects that serve scientific and military progress. The institute also serves as a platform for international scientific collaborations, which could create diplomatic tension if investigations prove that sensitive internationally supported scientific facilities were directly attacked. The Israeli military has warned Iran on Sunday to immediately evacuate 'military weapons production factories,' likely signalling new strikes. Col. Avichay Adraee, a military spokesperson, posted the warning on the social platform X in Farsi. In the past, Adraee has signalled other strikes in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Yemen amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. His warning came just after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would stop its attacks on Israel if Israel stopped its strikes. Our journalists are working on this developing story.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
Iran targets Israeli security's brain, hits Weizmann Institute of Science with missiles, destroys labs
A missile fired by Iran struck the prestigious Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, also considered the 'technological backbone' of Israel's security sector, sparking a fire and causing significant damage to a laboratory building on campus, Israeli officials confirmed early Sunday(June 15). According to the report, "at least one building containing laboratories" was on fire. The attack occurred amid a broad Iranian missile and drone barrage in retaliation for Israeli strikes earlier in the week on key military and nuclear sites in Iran. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, containing the fire before it could spread further across the historic research institution. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bangladesh: Unsold Sofas at Bargain Prices (View Current Prices) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo While no casualties have been officially confirmed at the Weizmann Institute, Hebrew-language media reports indicate that emergency crews were still investigating whether people might be trapped inside the affected building. The Weizmann Institute Live Events The Weizmann Institute, founded in 1934 and known globally for breakthroughs in chemistry, biology, and artificial intelligence, had never before sustained direct damage in a military conflict. According to The New York Times, images reviewed by the publication show at least one laboratory building ablaze following the strike. This rare and symbolic hit to civilian infrastructure comes as part of a larger and rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Just two days earlier, Israeli aircraft reportedly struck more than 100 Iranian targets, including facilities linked to uranium enrichment. Iran's response came swiftly. The Saturday night barrage included over 150 ballistic missiles and drones. Israeli defense systems intercepted most, but several broke through. In addition to Rehovot, major impacts were reported in Bat Yam, where at least six people were killed, and dozens remain trapped in the rubble of a collapsed apartment building. Four members of one family died in northern Israel after a missile strike on their home in Tamra. The Israeli military has not confirmed whether the Weizmann Institute was specifically targeted or struck by accident. Nonetheless, the damage has sparked alarm in the scientific and academic communities. As of Sunday morning(June 15), Israel's airspace remains closed, and officials are still working to bring back stranded citizens abroad. The IDF has advised civilians near weapons manufacturing zones in central Israel to evacuate immediately as the threat of further strikes remains.
