Israel targets Iranian missile crews as Haifa’s historic mosque damaged in strike

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday it had targeted and destroyed an Iranian missile crew that was preparing to fire missiles at Israel overnight. According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli fighter jets also struck three surface-to-surface missile launchers that were getting ready to launch attacks on Israeli territory.

In a separate strike, Israeli drones spotted a group of Iranian soldiers, including a commander from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), near another missile site. The group was reportedly responsible for operating at least 15 missile launchers. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched an airstrike, killing the IRGC commander and others in the unit, the report said.

Meanwhile, one of Iran’s missile strikes on Friday caused significant damage in downtown Haifa. The Times of Israel reported that the shockwave from a missile blast hit the historic Al Jarina Grand Mosque, shattering its stained-glass windows and damaging parts of the building.

Built in 1775 and expanded in 1901, the mosque is a well-known religious and cultural landmark in Haifa. Only 15 worshippers had gathered for Friday prayers due to ongoing security warnings, compared to the usual 200. Khaled Dagash, a representative of the Islamic Wakf, said the prayers had ended before the strike, and no one was inside when the mosque was hit. One person outside the building suffered minor injuries.