A daylight Iranian missile hit in central Israel

How do you explain sirens and loud booms to a two-year-old? Against the backdrop of a burning, bombed-out bus, a mother shares her very Israeli journey into make-believe

As ballistic missiles from Iran rained down on central Israel on June 17, 2025, The Times of Israel was on the ground, capturing the immediate aftermath.

Against a backdrop of a bombed-out bus, a mother of a two-year-old girl said she pretends the sirens and missile strikes over the past several days are “a game.”

A man walking his dog spoke about his dog’s all-too-natural physiological reaction.

In this brief on-the-scene video, locals reflect on what it felt like at the moment and what it means to be Israeli today.

A Times of Israel Original Video
Created by Eli Katzoff