The photo shows the aftermath of a powerful Iranian missile strike on the southern Israeli-occupied city of Arad, March 21, 2026.

Thousands of Israeli settlers are too fearful to return to their homes after being evacuated following Iranian retaliatory missile attacks on the occupied territories.

According to reports by the Israeli media, at least 1,450 families, who have been evacuated, have yet to return to their homes. Nearly 3,000 Israelis have left their homes since the United States and Israel launched an unprovoked war on Iran on February 28.

The number is now expected to rise after Iranian missiles struck the southern cities of Dimona and Arad on Saturday, leaving buildings shattered and at least 200 people injured.

Dimona is a populated city about 20km west of the Israeli regime`s main nuclear facility.

According to the regime`s health officials, at least 11 people were seriously injured. Some reports said that a number of settlers were killed in the power missile attack, but the regime has a policy of censoring casualty figures.

Witnesses told Israeli media the blasts they heard were terrifying. The missile, they said, badly damaged several buildings, leaving a deep crater.

Israel`s military admitted that its air defense systems failed to intercept Iran`s missiles.

Iran`s retaliatory attack came after its main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz, southeast of Tehran, was hit earlier on Saturday.

After Iran`s missile attack on the occupied territories last night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that Israel had a "difficult" night.

During a visit to the debris and displaced residents in the city of Arad, Netanyahu desperately called for other countries to join the military aggression against Iran.

"The time has come for other world leaders to join us in taking action against Iran," he said.

Netanyahu also threatened to continue the war against Iran.

Iran`s response to the US-Israeli joint aggression, however, has so far been decisive and precise.

Iranian armed forces have been carrying out retaliatory attacks on US military assets in regional countries and on targets in the Israeli-occupied territories since the two enemies launched the aggression against the Islamic Republic more than three weeks ago.