Mapping Iran’s most significant strikes on Israel

EXPLAINER

A fire that appeared to have engulfed several cars in central Israel on Wednesday morning came from an Iranian missile. According to the Iranian Fars News Agency, the Meron Airbase in northern Israel was one of the targets.

Since Friday, at least 240 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Iran, compared to at least 24 Israeli attacks in Israel.

Military censorship during a conflict

According to Israeli media reports on some strikes carried out across the nation with various levels of casualties and damage. However, reports of attacks involving sensitive or strategic targets are frequently kept secret or restricted from the public because of military censorship in place during wartime.

Al Jazeera’s fact-checking unit, Sanad, has mapped some of the most significant Iranian attacks on Israel from Saturday through Monday using publicly available information, including publicly available images and videos from Israeli media outlets, as well as visual identification of destroyed locations in Israeli cities.

The map below shows these locations:

Targeted areas are sensitive

missiles flew just 300 meters (984 feet) from Tel Aviv’s headquarters of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the Kirya.

One of Israel’s most sensitive and heavily fortified government complexes, where important military and intelligence offices are located, is often referred to as “Israel’s Pentagon.”

The Rehovot, one of Israel’s top research facilities, was also hit by a second strike, which occurred in the south of Tel Aviv of Rehovot. According to reports, the institute collaborated with the Israeli military, making it a significant target.

Tel Aviv’s largest metropolitan area

Several areas across the Tel Aviv’s largest metropolitan area have also come under fire.

In Ramat Gan, a city close to Tel Aviv, missiles struck a number of towers and residential complexes, causing significant damage and requiring evacuations. Nine buildings were reported to have been destroyed by local authorities.

A religious school was destroyed in Bnei Brak, while the nearby city of Petah Tikva, in the east, was also hit by missile strikes that severely damaged both residential and commercial areas.

According to emergency services, Bat Yam, south of Tel Aviv, experienced the highest levels of destruction and casualties in Israel, with nine confirmed fatalities and about 200 injured. Multiple homes were destroyed in Rishon LeZion, adding to the region’s extensive damage.

refinery in Haifa

Iranian missiles struck Haifa’s Bazan petrochemical complex, the nation’s largest oil refinery, in northern Israel, causing the country’s largest oil refinery to shut down operations.

A second missile strike struck several residential units in the Neve Sha’anan neighborhood in Haifa.

Tamra

Four women from the same family were killed in Tamra, a town of 35, 000 people primarily from Palestine in northern Israel, by an Iranian missile. Tamra lacks adequate bomb shelters, just like many other Israeli towns.