Suchismita Muduli Baron, an Indian-origin scientist living in Beersheba, Israel, has shared glimpses of her life underground after missile attacks from Iran on Saturday. The attacks followed a major US-Israel operation targeting Iran, prompting millions in Israel to seek safety in bomb shelters.
Family seeks safety amid missile salvos
On Saturday, Baron, along with her husband and two children, took refuge in a bomb shelter as missile salvos rained down. Sharing the experience on Instagram, she wrote, ‘Locked in a shelter. Staying strong and protecting each other. Hoping for better days ahead.’
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In her posts, Baron showed the family eating a simple meal on bedsheets using disposable plates and her children napping on bunk beds. She described the anxiety of living under threat, saying, ‘Sleep feels different these days. We don’t fully rest – we stay alert, listening, waiting. It’s exhausting, but as a mother, I don’t have the option to fall apart. I choose strength. I choose calm. I choose hope. And I pray tomorrow feels lighter.’
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Bomb shelters: A routine part of life in Israel
Israelis are no strangers to bomb shelters. Reinforced shelters are a standard part of homes, schools, offices and public spaces, designed to protect civilians from rockets, missiles, shrapnel and chemical attacks.
The country has relied on this system for decades due to ongoing conflicts with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen and most recently, a 12-day war last June involving Iran. A network of air-raid sirens, shelters and missile defenses aims to minimise casualties, though it cannot entirely prevent them.
Casualties and impact of recent strikes
Despite Israel’s extensive defense measures, casualties occurred during Saturday’s attacks. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service reported that a woman in the Tel Aviv area died from an Iranian strike. At least 90 people sustained light injuries, while one man was seriously hurt. Thousands of Israelis spent the day moving in and out of shelters, continuing a cycle of alertness and uncertainty.
