ARAK, Iran — A missile slammed into a densely populated residential area of Arak, central Iran, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, as part of a sustained wave of U.S.–Israeli air and missile strikes on Iranian military and strategic infrastructure, according to local sources and regional conflict updates.

The strike hit a block of apartment buildings in one of Arak’s residential districts, causing significant damage to homes and forcing families to flee into the streets. Emergency responders, including firefighters and civil defense teams, rushed to the scene to extinguish fires and assist injured civilians.

Eyewitnesses described a massive explosion that shook the neighborhood and shattered windows of nearby buildings. Smoke rose from the rubble as residents and rescuers combed through debris looking for survivors. Medical teams set up triage stations to treat those wounded before transporting them to local hospitals.

While neither U.S. nor Israeli officials immediately commented on the specific strike, the incident occurred amid a broader offensive known as Operation Lion’s Roar, a coordinated campaign of air and missile attacks by the Israel Defense Forces with reported involvement from U.S. forces targeting Iranian military facilities, command centers, and key infrastructure deep inside the country.

Iranian state media has documented multiple explosions in cities including Tehran and other strategic centers as the offensive continues, and Iranian authorities have condemned the strikes as violations of sovereignty and acts of aggression. Tehran has vowed to retaliate as tensions escalate between the two sides.

Officials in Arak have not yet released an official count of casualties from the residential strike, but early reports suggest multiple civilian injuries and significant structural damage. Local authorities also warned that aftershocks from following strikes could pose further risks to residents.

Human rights and conflict analysts warn that targeting residential areas heightens the risk of civilian casualties and could complicate diplomatic efforts to de escalate the broader conflict. International organizations have previously called for greater measures to protect non combatants as hostilities widen.

The attack on residential buildings in Arak underscores growing concerns about the impact of prolonged military operations on ordinary citizens in Iran, distinct from purely military or strategic targets.