Haifa has been rocked by one of the most powerful strikes of the war after Iran fired a Kheibar ballistic missile directly at Israel’s northern port city, igniting fires across the harbour and industrial belt and sending residents racing for shelters.

Sirens screamed over Haifa Bay just after 2:00 a.m. as radar detected a heavy launch from western Iran. Arrow and David’s Sling interceptors blasted into the sky, but defence officials now admit the Kheibar’s high speed and manoeuvring re‑entry profile allowed at least one warhead to punch through the shield and dive toward the coastline.

The impact tore into a logistics zone between the commercial port and nearby petrochemical facilities, flipping trucks, shredding warehouses and blowing out windows in tower blocks overlooking the bay. Viral videos show a blinding flash, followed by a towering plume of flame and thick black smoke rolling over cranes and container stacks.

Emergency services report multiple ᴅᴇᴀᴅ and dozens wounded, including dockworkers on night shift and residents in neighbourhoods facing the waterfront. Fire crews are battling parallel blazes amid fears the flames could spread to fuel tanks or chemical stores, while hazmat teams monitor the air for toxic leaks.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is hailing the hit as proof the Kheibar “can reach every inch of occupied territory,” framing Haifa as a strategic and psychological prize. Israeli officials insist national port operations will continue and vow a “crushing response” against Iran’s missile infrastructure—but Haifa’s stunned population has already drawn its own conclusion: the northern gateway to Israel is now a front‑line target.