DhakaGate International Bureau:
DhakaGate International Bureau, June 24, 2025 – Four people were killed and 22 others injured in Beersheba, Israel, when Iran fired six missile salvos targeting multiple regions of the country just hours before a US-brokered ceasefire was set to begin at 7 a.m. local time, announced by President Donald Trump.
The missile attacks, which began around 5 a.m., struck Israel’s central, northern, and southern regions, triggering air raid sirens and forcing millions into bomb shelters. In Beersheba, two missiles were launched at 5:40 a.m., one of which was intercepted. The second struck the sixth floor of a modern apartment building, causing partial collapse and significant destruction. The building’s reinforced safe rooms, designed to withstand ballistic missile shockwaves and shrapnel, failed to protect against a direct hit, killing three members of one family in one room and a fourth person in another. The Israeli Air Force is investigating why the missile evaded air defenses.
Magen David Adom (MDA) reported the fatalities included a woman in her 40s, a man in her 40s, and a man in his 20s, with details on the fourth victim undisclosed. MDA treated two people in moderate condition, 20 with minor injuries or anxiety, and rescued three survivors from the rubble. Nearby buildings, vehicles, and infrastructure were also damaged, with emergency crews combing through debris for additional survivors.
Despite both Israel and Iran initially agreeing to the ceasefire, hostilities resumed when missiles were fired at Israel again before 10:30 a.m., prompting Jerusalem to vow a strong military response. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that 20 ballistic missiles were launched in the morning barrages, most of which were intercepted. In a separate incident in Nof HaGalil, a man was seriously injured while seeking shelter.
The IDF conducted preemptive airstrikes on eight Iranian ballistic missile launchers in western Iran, claiming the strikes prevented a larger attack. President Trump urged both sides to honor the ceasefire, but following the 10:30 a.m. missile launches, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered a robust military response targeting Tehran.
Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, itself damaged by an earlier Iranian missile on Thursday, treated 10 victims, two in moderate condition. The Home Front Command emphasized that shelters remain the safest option during ballistic missile attacks, despite the failure of safe rooms in this incident.
The repeated missile barrages and subsequent violations have cast doubt on the ceasefire’s stability, with tensions remaining high between Israel and Iran.
