Fragment of Iranian missile falls near Church of Holy Sepulchre
Consequences of the missile fall. Photo: Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs account on X
On March 20, 2026, fragments of an Iranian missile fell in the Old City of Jerusalem in close proximity to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Western Wall, reports the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In connection with the incident, Israeli police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs decided to temporarily block access to religious sites for believers and tourists.
As a result of the munition's impact, the road surface on a street near the Jewish Quarter was damaged. According to preliminary data, there are no casualties or injured.
The current incident became a continuation of a series of attacks during which holy sites came under threat.
As the UOJ reported, on March 16, 2026, as a result of similar shelling, missile parts were already found on the territory of the Temple Mount and in the area of the Holy Sepulchre. At that time, one of the fragments damaged the roof of a building belonging to the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.