IAF probing failure to shoot down Iranian ballistic missile that hit Jerusalem-area town

By Emanuel Fabian

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28 March 2026, 4:12 pm

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Rescue services at the scene of an Iranian ballistic missile impact in Eshtaol, March 28, 2026. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)

The Israeli Air Force is investigating the failure to shoot down the Iranian ballistic missile that struck the Jerusalem-area town of Eshtaol this afternoon.

According to the military, the Iranian missile carried a conventional warhead, not a cluster bomb. Attempts to intercept the missile were made, but air defenses failed to knock the projectile down.

The impact lightly injured at least 11 people and caused extensive damage to several buildings and a parking lot, in a radius of around 150 meters, rescue services say.