Bedouin Girl, 7, Still in Life-Threatening Condition From Iranian Missile Attack

Jerusalem, 16 April, 2024 (TPS) -- A seven-year-old Bedouin girl injured in Iran’s missile attack is still in life-threatening condition, officials at Beer-Sheva’s Soroka Medical Center said on Tuesday.

Amina Hassouna is on a ventilator after shrapnel from an intercepted missile fell on their home in Al-Fura, an unrecognized Bedouin village in the Negev near Beer-Sheva. She was hospitalized after being hit in the head.

Hassouna’s condition “continues to be severe,” said Dr. Tzachi Lazar, director of Soroka’s pediatric intensive care unit.

“The interdisciplinary team of intensive care specialists, anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons and others continues to care for her around the clock,” Lazar said.

On Saturday night, Iran launched more than 320 drones and missiles at Israel. Most of the drones and several cruise missiles were intercepted by the air forces of the US, Jordan, Britain and France without reaching Israel airspace. Israeli air defenses intercepted the remaining missiles.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, of the drones and missiles launched, 99% were intercepted. While most of the UAVs were shot down by American, Jordanian, British and French forces, the Arrow-3 shot down the ballistic missiles at high altitudes.

Iran vowed to avenge an airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1. Killed in the strike were Quds Force commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, and seven other IRGC officers.

The attack was widely attributed to Israel, though Jerusalem never confirmed this.

Israel’s War Cabinet met on Monday night to discuss how to respond. According to various media reports, the Cabinet is divided on the retaliation’s timing and scale.