ESHTA’OL, Israel, March 29 (V7N) –  A direct Iranian missile strike on a residential area in the village of Eshtaol, near Beit Shemesh, wounded 11 people on Saturday and left a massive crater, medics said, as the Middle East war entered its second month.  

Several buildings were badly damaged, with metal wreckage and concrete debris scattered across the site. The blast also destroyed cars and blew away the roof of a family home, leaving only the shell of the structure, AFP footage showed.  

“It was a direct hit by an Iranian missile. Lots of buildings were hit,” said Ohad Moyal, commander from the military’s Home Front Command. The military confirmed the strike was caused by an Iranian missile.  

Military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani posted a video clip of the site on X, writing: “A family home in Eshtaol — destroyed by an Iranian missile.”  

The village had already suffered tragedy earlier in the war, when nine people, including four minors, were killed by an Iranian missile strike in the opening days of the conflict.  

The war began on February 28 following joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Since then, Iran has launched waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and several countries across the region.  

END/WD/RH