Iranian missile strikes hit southern Israel near nuclear site, raising fears of wider Middle East escalation

New missile strikes in southern Israel are raising concerns about a rapidly escalating conflict across the Middle East.

(NBC)- New missile strikes in southern Israel are raising concerns about a rapidly escalating conflict across the Middle East.

Dramatic video shows a direct Iranian missile strike hitting near one of Israel’s main nuclear research areas, highlighting Iran’s ability to continue launching attacks deep into Israeli territory. The strike caused significant damage in the southern city of Arad, where officials say at least 180 people were injured.

Residents described the impact as unlike anything they had experienced before.

“It was a very shocking boom, something that we haven’t heard before,” said one Arad resident.

Israeli officials say the missile managed to evade the country’s advanced air defense systems — underscoring the limits of even highly effective interception technology. The Israeli military says its systems have intercepted more than 90 percent of incoming threats, but acknowledged no defense is perfect.

The latest strikes come as Iran continues to maintain a near-total blockade of the critical Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route.

President Donald Trump issued a stark warning, giving Iran 48 hours to lift the blockade or face severe consequences, including potential strikes on its power infrastructure.

Iran quickly responded, warning that any escalation would result in attacks on U.S. energy facilities.

The conflicting signals come just one day after Trump suggested he was considering winding down the conflict. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration’s approach in an interview, saying escalation can sometimes be necessary to ultimately reduce tensions.

“Sometimes you have to escalate to de-escalate,” Bessent said.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Iran of deliberately targeting civilians, pointing to damage in residential areas.

Meanwhile, Iranian state media claimed the intended target of the strikes was a nearby nuclear research facility — in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.

The violence is not limited to Israel. In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces carried out additional strikes, including the destruction of a bridge aimed at limiting movement by Hezbollah fighters. The Iran-backed group remains a key player in the widening conflict.

In central Israel, debris from intercepted missiles injured at least 15 people in Tel Aviv, adding to the growing toll.