According to the report, “at least one building containing laboratories” was on fire.
The attack occurred in the middle of a large Iranian missile and a drone dam in retaliation for Israeli strikes earlier in the main military and nuclear sites in Iran. Emergency speakers quickly arrived at the scene, containing the fire before it could spread more through the historical research institution.
Although no victim was officially confirmed at the Weizmann Institute, reports from the Hebrew language media indicate that the emergency teams were still investigating to find out if people could be trapped inside the affected building.
The Weizmann Institute
The Weizmann Institute, founded in 1934 and known worldwide for breakthroughs in chemistry, biology and artificial intelligence, had never undergone direct damage in a military conflict. According to the New York Times, the images examined by the publication show at least one laboratory in fire after the strike.
This rare and symbolic blow to civil infrastructure is part of a larger and quickly degenerating conflict between Israel and Iran.
Two days earlier, Israeli planes would have reached more than 100 Iranian targets, including installations related to the enrichment of uranium. Iran’s response came quickly. The Saturday evening dam included more than 150 ballistic and drones missiles. Israeli defense systems have intercepted the most, but many have broken.
In addition to Rehovot, major impacts have been reported in Bat Yam, where at least six people were killed, and dozens remain trapped in the rubble of an apartments building. Four members of a family died in northern Israel after a missile strike on their house in Tamra.
THE Israeli soldier did not confirm if the Weizmann Institute was specifically targeted or struck by an accident. However, damage stimulated alarm in scientific and university communities.
Sunday morning (June 15), Israel’s airspace remains closed and officials are still working to bring citizens stranded abroad. The FDI has advised civilians near the weapons manufacturing areas in the center of Israel to immediately evacuate as the threat of new strikes remains.