Six people were lightly wounded Saturday as Iran launched multiple salvos of ballistic missiles equipped with cluster bomb warheads into central Israel, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict. The attacks, which struck residential areas in Bnei Brak, Ramat Gan, and Tel Aviv, caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, officials said. In response, the Israeli Air Force executed a coordinated wave of strikes against critical infrastructure targets across Iran, including facilities in Tehran and the country’s southern petrochemical zones.
The exchange of fire occurred against a backdrop of heightened tension involving United States forces, as the American military continued a frantic search Saturday for a missing pilot following the downing of a U.S. Warplane over Iranian territory. The convergence of these events underscores the volatile security situation as the war enters its sixth week.
As of late afternoon, missiles carrying cluster bomb warheads had impacted more than a dozen sites in central Israel. The use of such munitions, which disperse smaller bomblets over a wide area, drew immediate condemnation from Israeli officials, who characterized the targeting of civilian zones as a war crime.
Escalation in Central Israel
The violence began shortly after 1 a.m. When a ballistic missile carrying a conventional warhead struck the Neot Hovav industrial zone, south of Beersheba, sparking a fire. The Fire and Rescue Service reported that firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze and conduct searches, noting no known injuries or involvement of hazardous materials at that location.
An hour later, the focus shifted to the densely populated center of the country. Iran fired a ballistic missile carrying a cluster bomb warhead at central Israel. The munitions caused a building to partially collapse in Ramat Gan, while a high-voltage electricity line was damaged in Rosh Ha’ayin, resulting in power outages for parts of the city.
Medics reported that a 45-year-old man was lightly injured by shattered glass in Bnei Brak and transported to a hospital for treatment. Rescue teams worked through the morning to clear debris and secure the affected neighborhoods.
Following a 10-hour lull, a second ballistic missile salvo struck central Israel in the afternoon. This attack as well contained cluster munitions, causing heavy damage to residential buildings in Bnei Brak and Ramat Gan. Bomblets were reported in Tel Aviv and Petah Tikva, damaging roads and vehicles.
During this afternoon attack, two cluster submunitions landed near the IDF’s Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv. Damage was sustained by a parking lot adjacent to the base and a nearby school, though no injuries were reported in that specific vicinity.
Magen David Adom confirmed that four people were lightly wounded during the afternoon strike. A 24-year-old man suffered smoke inhalation, two men in their 20s were hit by glass shards, and another individual was injured by a blast. Later in the day, a separate blast from a cluster bomb warhead lightly wounded a 52-year-old in the Tel Aviv suburbs.
IDF Retaliatory Strikes on Infrastructure
The Israeli military responded with a wave of airstrikes targeting Iranian infrastructure. The IDF stated it struck targets in Tehran, though specific details were initially withheld. An AFP journalist observed a thick haze of gray smoke over the capital following several blasts.
Israeli security sources confirmed that the Israeli Air Force also targeted facilities in southern Iran. Reports indicated strikes on petrochemical facilities, a cement factory, and the perimeter of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
The Fars news agency reported that facilities at the Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Zone in Khuzestan Province were hit. Valiollah Hayati, the deputy governor for Khuzestan province, told Fars that attacks struck three companies in the area. He noted that five people were wounded though it remained unclear if there were any fatalities.
Footage circulating on social media showed thick black smoke rising from the industrial zone. The Mahshahr complex is a critical facility, reportedly supplying around 70% of Iran’s gasoline.
Heavy Strike Hits Key Petrochemical Complex in Iran
A major strike targeted the Mahshahr petrochemical complex in Khuzestan, a facility said to supply around 70% of Iran’s gasoline along with other petroleum products.
The attack effectively strikes at the heart of Iran’s… pic.twitter.com/eITLjEt77f
— Ahmad Algohbary (@AhmadAlgohbary) April 4, 2026
the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran stated that an airstrike near the Bushehr nuclear facility killed a security guard and damaged a support building. This marks the fourth time the facility has been targeted during the war. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed it had been informed by Iran about the strike and reported that “no increase in radiation levels was reported.”
Search for Missing U.S. Pilot
Complicating the military landscape, the U.S. Military pressed ahead Saturday with a search for a missing pilot after Iran shot down an American warplane. Iran identified the aircraft as a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle, one of two attacked on Friday. While one service member was rescued, the status of a second crew member remained unknown.
The Pentagon notified the House Armed Services Committee that a search-and-rescue operation was ongoing. In a statement obtained by The Associated Press, the military acknowledged notification of “an aircraft being shot down” in the Middle East but provided no further public details.
President Trump, in a brief interview with NBC News, declined to discuss the search efforts but indicated the incident would not affect negotiations with Iran. Meanwhile, Iranian state media urged residents to turn in any “enemy pilot,” promising a reward.
Separately, Iranian state media claimed a U.S. A-10 attack aircraft crashed in the Persian Gulf after being struck by defense forces. A U.S. Official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it was not immediately clear if the aircraft crashed, was shot down, or if Iran was involved.
Regional Spillover and Embassy Damage
The conflict continued to reverberate across the Gulf. A drone attack on a refinery owned by Kuwait’s national oil company sparked fires on Friday, and shrapnel from intercepted drones injured four people in Bahrain on Saturday. In the United Arab Emirates, authorities confirmed that debris from an intercepted Iranian projectile hit two buildings in Dubai, including one housing the U.S. Cloud computing firm Oracle.
????????????#BREAKING: UAE authorities confirm that fragments from an intercepted Iranian projectile fell on a #Dubai building, including an Oracle facility.#IranWar pic.twitter.com/Ol8cVG44Sz
— Aisha Ali (@CaptAisha) April 4, 2026
latest details emerged regarding an Iranian drone attack on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia in March. Reports indicated the attack caused more damage than previously disclosed, heavily damaging three floors, including a CIA station. Officials stated that had the attack occurred during working hours, it could have resulted in a mass-casualty event.
As the situation develops, the Israel Defense Forces have indicated that further strikes against economic and military targets remain a possibility. Residents in central Israel are advised to remain near shelter and monitor official channels for updates.
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