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Fragments from missiles and interceptor systems struck several of the world's most sacred religious sites in occupied East Jerusalem's Old City after Israeli air defenses engaged incoming Iranian missiles over the city, Israeli police said.
Authorities reported that debris was discovered near the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and in the Jewish Quarter, with some fragments described as being of significant size. A residential building in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem also sustained damage after missile debris struck its roof.
"During the recent salvo fired from Iran toward Jerusalem, several intercepts occurred over the city," police said, adding that officers located "fragments of missiles and interceptor debris, some of significant size, at multiple sites in the Old City."
The affected locations rank among the most revered in the three Abrahamic faiths. The Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount, is the third holiest site in Islam and one of the most contested pieces of land in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed by Christians to be the site of Jesus's crucifixion and burial, draws millions of pilgrims each year. The Jewish Quarter houses the Western Wall, the closest accessible point to the site of the ancient Jewish temples.
East Jerusalem, including the Old City, was captured by Israel in the 1967 war and subsequently annexed, a move not recognized by most of the international community. The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, while Israel considers the entire city its undivided capital.
The incident underscores the risks posed to densely populated civilian and heritage areas when aerial interceptions take place over urban centers, a concern raised repeatedly by humanitarian organizations throughout the wider regional conflict.
No casualties were reported in connection with the debris at the Old City sites, according to the information provided by Israeli authorities.
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