At least five Iranian ballistic missiles struck populated areas of Israel during the June 2025 armed conflict between the two countries.

These five missiles killed 20 civilians and damaged a hospital. They were among the approximately 50 missiles that impacted in Israel during the 12-day conflict out of 550 launched in total.

According to new Human Rights Watch research, the missiles hit civilian residences that were 1.5 to 9 kilometers from any military sites in Israel. Attacks on civilian structures without a military objective are unlawfully indiscriminate and those responsible are liable for war crimes.

In June and July, Human Rights Watch researchers travelled to the sites of eight strikes in Israel, including the five documented, and spoke with dozens of victims and witnesses, as well as analyzed satellite imagery and verified photographs and videos posted on social media.

In Bat Yam, a coastal city south of Tel Aviv, one missile hit a 12-story apartment building on June 15, killing nine civilians, including three children. Elias Mughrabi, 44, who was asleep on the third floor, said that after the strike, “three different apartments became one … because all the internal walls between them were destroyed instantly.”

Those responsible for the alleged war crimes should face appropriate prosecution. Iranian authorities are also waging a terrifying crackdown in Iran under the guise of national security in the aftermath of the June 2025 hostilities with Israel.

Iran’s indiscriminate missile strikes in response to Israeli attacks killed and wounded dozens of civilians across Israel and upended the lives of many more. Read the new report to learn more about our findings and what needs to happen next to ensure accountability.

>> “The sound was terrifying. I thought I was dead.”