Israelis Wake to Devastation After Missile Barrage from Iran
June 22, 2025 – Early Sunday morning, Israelis wake to devastation as multiple cities — including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and surrounding areas — survey widespread destruction following fresh waves of Israelis missile strikes. The barrage marks another painful escalation in the ongoing conflict triggered by U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Air raid sirens blared before dawn, jarring residents awake across Israelis populous northern and central regions. In Tel Aviv’s Ramat Aviv neighbourhood, entire apartment buildings appear gutted by missile impacts. Rescue teams worked through rubble-strewn streets, searching for survivors amid collapsed structures and collapsed facades.
“Our entire house was destroyed — there’s nothing left,” said local resident Aviad Chernichovsky, his voice cracking with disbelief as he surveyed the wreckage. Several elderly residents and injured civilians were being evacuated on stretchers, while paramedics rushed to stabilize shock and trauma victims .
Israelis Wake to Devastation Across Major Coastal Cities
In Haifa, heavy damage was reported at a public square near the city centre. Buildings and shops were significantly damaged, windows shattered, and palm trees splintered, though air raid sirens did not sound before the impacts—raising questions about the effectiveness of Israel’s early warning systems . Israeli police confirmed a possible malfunction in the air-defense interceptor system is under investigation.
Across Ness Ziona and Beer Yaakov, similar scenes unfolded, with a man and his car struck on a nearby highway. Altogether, more than 86 civilians were injured — most sustaining light wounds from shrapnel, though several cases remain serious. Iran Fires Largest Warheads in Retaliation.
The Iranian military, referring to its largest-ever salvo, launched 27 ballistic missiles — including the heavy Khorramshahr‑4 model carrying “devastating warhead power” — targeting multiple strategic and civilian locations such as Ben Gurion airport. Iran’s senior officials said the wave was in direct retaliation for American strikes that destroyed key nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
Israelis defense network, comprised of the Iron Dome, Patriot batteries, and U.S. interceptor support, engaged over 450 missiles and approximately 1,000 drones during the sustained attack . Despite early interceptions, at least 50 missile impacts were verified — leaving clear evidence of the defense system’s inability to fully contain the strike .
In Haifa specifically, reports of interceptor failure prompted deeper investigation. One missile reportedly landed after the defense system failed to sound sirens, allowing fragments to damage infrastructure and injure civilians.
Israelis officials, including Tel Aviv’s mayor Ron Huldai, declared that while the damage was extensive, civilians in shelters remained largely unharmed. Health services mobilized rapidly to treat blast-related injuries, and subterranean hospitals and shelters continued their critical operations .
Internationally, the attack drew quick responses. Secretary-General António Guterres and EU diplomatic teams urged restraint, while the U.S., U.K., and allied navies reinforced interceptor efforts in regional airspace .
Although Iran’s protestations framed the barrage as proportionate retaliation, analysts warn that its size and missile composition marks a significant strategic escalation. Israel’s government has indicated readiness to respond, emphasizing ongoing military coordination with partners.
Nevertheless, civilians across Tel Aviv, Haifa, and nearby towns are only beginning to come to terms with the aftermath — cleaning up shattered windows, salvaging belongings, and consoling loved ones.
As the dust settles and Israelis wake to devastation, questions remain over the effectiveness of early warning systems and air defenses. Investigations into the Haifa siren failure and interceptor malfunction are underway.
Israelis ongoing response — both in medical aid and military planning — and Iran’s level of continuing aggression will shape the trajectory of what many fear may become an extended regional conflict.
Source- EWN
