An Iranian ballistic missile struck a residential building yesterday, with up to four people initially believed to be trapped beneath collapsed floors. The Times of Israel reports that rescue and recovery operations continued throughout the night. Fire and Rescue Services later confirmed that four bodies had been recovered. The victims are believed to be an elderly couple, their son, and his partner. Four additional individuals were wounded in the attack and received medical attention.
The attack also left an 82-year-old man seriously wounded, along with a 78-year-old woman who was lightly to moderately wounded, and a 38-year-old woman and a 10-month-old baby lightly wounded, the latter with a head injury, according to medical officials.
A spokesperson for the Rambam Health Care Campus said Monday that the 82-year-old man had undergone surgery and was sedated and ventilated.
His wife, aged 78, was also hospitalized and in good condition, the hospital said.
According to investigations by the military and the police, the warhead from the ballistic missile — with an estimated several hundred kilograms of explosive material — did not explode upon impact.
The building’s floors collapsed due to the force of the strike. Had the warhead exploded, the damage would likely have been far more extensive, potentially destroying the entire building and damaging nearby structures, though no such damage was reported. The missile reportedly broke apart in the air and was not intercepted by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
Residents of Haifa reported hearing a loud blast, with some suggesting a secondary explosion caused by gas. Most residents were unharmed, having reached bomb shelters in time. As of now, only one victim has been publicly identified: voice coach Lena Ostrovsky.
The Fellowship and our supporters mourn these innocent lives and pray for their families, as well as for those recovering from injuries. We also thank God for the resilience and dedication of the Fire and Rescue Services, who carried out this highly complex search and recovery operation.