TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Following a U.S. strike on three Iranian nuclear sites, Iran retaliated by launching over 40 missiles toward Israel on Sunday, resulting in 23 injuries and extensive damage to residential buildings across three cities. The assault delivered significant destruction, particularly in Tel Aviv, where an explosion tore off the façade of a multistory residential building and caused damage to several nearby structures, including a nursing home, within a wide radius.
Deputy Mayor Haim Goren, who arrived at the scene, noted it was “miraculous” that there were not more casualties, as many residents had already evacuated or managed to reach bomb shelters. Relatives and healthcare aides assisted nursing home residents, some of whom were using wheelchairs or walkers, as they exited the facility, where windows shattered as high as the 11th floor.
Ofer Berger, a resident living on the seventh floor of a nearby high-rise, described the impact, stating, “It’s like a typhoon came through my apartment.” He expressed concern about the ongoing conflict, hoping for a swift end to the war with Iran, acknowledging that most retaliatory strikes conclude with significant grief.
As the aftermath unfolded, residents gathered outside damaged buildings with their pets and belongings, including unique items like a shopping cart filled with Buddha statues and a child's bicycle. Many families scavenged through the debris, stepping cautiously around fragments of glass and twisted metal. A volunteer group called “One Heart” appeared to assist residents in salvaging what they could.
Since the war's onset, Israeli military reports indicate that more than 9,000 individuals have been displaced due to the strikes, with missiles damaging approximately 240 residential buildings and over 2,000 individual apartments.
Mira Goshen, 79, recounted the destruction of her apartment and described the terrifying experience as her reinforced safe room (mamad) shook violently. She credited the shelter for saving her life, as it remained intact amid widespread devastation. Notably, Goshen's pet bird, Chica, survived an 11-story fall when her cage was knocked off the balcony but was retrieved by a rescuer and sought comfort in Goshen's arms afterward.
Municipality workers quickly responded to the scene, clearing debris and handing out sandwiches and water at an aid station. Nearby businesses also faced damage, with blown-out windows and scattered merchandise, but some shops, like a supermarket, managed to remain open for customers in search of necessities.
Despite the chaos, residents maintained a calm demeanor, although Goren acknowledged the cumulative stress resulting from nightly missile barrages and the hurried rush to shelters. He mentioned that mutual aid groups have been tirelessly coordinating assistance to families seeking shelter and support, while the municipality is repurposing parking garages, bus, and train stations into temporary accommodations.
In light of the ongoing conflict and the resultant destruction, Goshen expressed indifference to the political situations surrounding the U.S. strikes on Iran, emphasizing her immediate concern for her future and living arrangements. “I'm far away from politics,” she stated, “and what I think, it doesn’t matter actually, because they don’t listen to ordinary people.”
