REHOVOT, Israel (June 20, 2025) — An Iranian missile struck the prestigious Weizmann Institute of Science early Sunday, causing massive damage across the Rehovot campus. At least two buildings were directly hit, collapsing entire floors and rendering roughly 45 laboratories inoperable. Several dozen more labs experienced significant structural harm.
Scientists Risk Everything to Salvage Their Work
While no one was physically harmed—the strike occurred overnight when the campus was empty—scientists from various disciplines, including regenerative medicine and developmental biology, rushed to salvage what they could. Frozen cell lines were quickly transferred to backup facilities, but critical studies on heart disease, cancer, and aging were lost.
“Everything … vanished”
Prof. Eldad Tzahor, whose regenerative medicine lab was among the worst affected, described the aftermath as “war-zone-like,” estimating that 90% of campus structures were impacted. Prof. Oren Schuldiner, who had spent 16 years researching neural development, said bluntly:
“Not a trace. Nothing can be saved.”
Economic & Scientific Toll
The estimated cost to rebuild the damaged facilities ranges from $300 million to $570 million. This includes the reconstruction of buildings, replacement of highly specialized lab equipment, and loss of invaluable samples and research data. Experts say rebuilding some of these labs could take years.
A Strategic Blow in an Escalating Conflict
The missile strike is believed to be retaliation for recent Israeli actions targeting Iranian nuclear scientists. Earlier in the week, Israel reported that Iran was nearing nuclear capability and responded with strikes on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure. Iran’s retaliation included missile and drone attacks, which caused civilian casualties and significant damage across parts of Israel. By striking the Weizmann Institute, Iran appears to be sending a clear message: science itself is now part of the battlefield.
Global Reverberations
The Weizmann Institute is internationally recognized for its cutting-edge research in stem cells, aging, cancer, and physics. It plays a vital role in several global research partnerships and receives substantial international funding. The attack threatens not just Israeli scientific progress but also global collaborative projects, potentially setting back important breakthroughs by years.
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