In Holon, Iranian missile strike reduces residential block to rubble
A direct impact destroys buildings and injures dozens, but officials hail residents’ discipline during the attack, saying adhering to Home Front Command guidelines saves lives
An Iranian ballistic missile carrying a powerful warhead slammed into a residential area in the central city of Holon on Thursday morning, destroying several apartment buildings, injuring dozens, and forcing people to flee with little more than the clothes on their backs as emergency crews scrambled to pull survivors from the wreckage.
The strike was part of a broader Iranian missile barrage targeting central and southern Israel, sending hundreds to hospitals. At least six people suffered serious injuries nationwide, four of them in Holon.
Holon fire chief Shaul Rachamim confirmed that all those trapped beneath the rubble had been rescued and taken to nearby hospitals within two hours of the impact.
The missile struck a dense five-building complex in the working-class city south of Tel Aviv, hurling debris across the area and shattering windows blocks away. At the impact site, buildings were partially reduced to rubble, with whole sections collapsing from the strike.
“It is reasonable to assume, with the destruction that we’re seeing here, that these buildings will have to be demolished,” Rachamim said.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion and disbelief following the impact. A man named Eli, who had been working nearby, said he had run to a public bomb shelter when the sirens sounded.
“The blast was incredibly strong — it even blew the shelter door open,” he said. His car, parked outside, was severely damaged, its windshield shattered by the shockwave.
Residents evacuated the area carrying bags and suitcases, uncertain when they would be able to return home.
Police quickly erected barricades to secure the impact zone and restrict access. Inside the cordoned-off area, a woman called to her adult son from a shattered apartment window as he tried to find a way in, eventually reaching her through a side entrance.
Paramedic Ori Lazarovich of Magen David Adom, among the first to arrive, described the scene as one of “mass chaos.”
“We had one building still on fire, cars completely wrecked,” he said, noting that the destruction made it difficult to access and treat patients.
The widespread damage was testament to the massive warheads Iran is putting on its missiles, often carrying hundreds of kilograms of explosives, several times the magnitude of missiles fired by terror groups in Gaza or Lebanon that Israelis have become accustomed to dealing with.
“We’re used to having patients with minor injuries,” Lazarovich said. “Now we’re seeing crush injuries, severe burns, smoke inhalation, and everything in between.”
“These missiles carry hundreds of pounds of explosives,” he added. “We have to adapt.”
He emphasized the complexity of dealing with impact zones that spread over several city blocks. The shockwaves from blasts have broken windows and injured people hundreds of meters away.
“You can’t just hyperfocus on the [initial impact zone],” he noted. “We have yards and yards of buildings that were affected.”
Lazarovich urged the public to follow safety guidance.
“If you happen to be in [an impact] site… listen to the Home Front Command and the additional first responders on the scene. Do what they say. It can be a matter of life or death,” he said.
Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, who heads Israel’s Home Front Command, commended Holon residents for seeking shelter, as warned, ahead of the strike, likely saving lives and minimizing the extent of injuries.
“The civilians who were in the building heard the warning, the advance directive, went down to a shared private shelter located at the bottom of the building, and this saved their lives,” he said, calling it “an extraordinary example of civilian behavior.”
Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy also visited the site, receiving briefings and surveying the damage. He reiterated key safety instructions: avoid impact zones, report any unexploded ordnance to the police emergency line, follow officer directions at the scene, and adhere to HFC guidance to ensure rescue operations can proceed without interference.
In the aftermath of the attack, a local school announced that several of its students’ families had lost their homes. The school’s parent committee launched a PayBox fundraiser to help provide essentials like food, clothing, and hygiene supplies.
The Holon strike was one of several caused by a barrage of roughly 30 Iranian ballistic missiles launched Thursday morning. Other direct hits were reported at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba and in Ramat Gan.
“We’re in difficult times,” Lazarovich said. “A strike can happen anywhere. Always be aware and cautious.”
The Times of Israel Community.