Haifa [Israel], June 21: An Iranian missile strike in downtown Haifa on Friday caused significant damage to the historic Al Jarina Grand Mosque and surrounding structures, according to The Times of Israel.
The Al Jarina Mosque, a historic stone structure originally built in 1775 and expanded in 1901, suffered shattered stained-glass windows and infrastructure damage. Normally hosting up to 200 worshippers on Fridays, the mosque had only 15 attendees due to a Home Front directive limiting large gatherings.
Khaled Dagash, a representative of the Wakf, stated that Friday prayers had already concluded before the missile impact and the mosque was empty at the time. However, one unidentified person sustained minor injuries outside the mosque. Dagash also mentioned that the mosque was undergoing renovations and expressed concern that government compensation might fall short of covering the full extent of the damage.
Another nearby place of worship, the Masjid Al-Saghir—built in 1761—also sustained damage, with its windows blown out. While no additional structural harm was observed, a security perimeter limited access to the site.
President Isaac Herzog condemned the missile strike, stating, “Iran is trying to kill Israelis of all faiths — Muslims included.” He emphasized Israel’s commitment to protecting all its citizens regardless of religion and described Haifa as “a symbol of coexistence between Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, Circassians and Baha’is.”
In a separate incident in southern Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that an Iranian ballistic missile struck the Colel Chabad Daycare Center in Beersheba. Thankfully, no injuries occurred, as the missile hit outside the center’s operating hours. Still, the damage to classrooms and play areas has left many families struggling with the emotional and practical fallout.
The IDF shared video evidence indicating that a cluster bomb was used in the Beersheba attack, with multiple small munitions impacting various locations.
Following a new threat assessment, the IDF Home Front Command announced no change in public safety guidelines. Gatherings are permitted for up to 30 people in most areas, provided a shelter is accessible, and up to 50 people outdoors or 100 indoors near border areas. Schools remain closed nationwide, with another assessment scheduled for Saturday night.
Earlier Friday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned that the public should be ready for a “prolonged campaign” against Iran. He asserted that Iran’s long-term objective has been the destruction of Israel and that its capabilities have now reached operational readiness.