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Hospital Struck Amid Escalating Israel-Iran Conflict
Amid the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, a hospital in Beersheba, Israel, sustained damage during a recent barrage of missiles fired by Iran. The incident marks a concerning development in the ongoing conflict, now in its seventh day, raising questions about the targeting of civilian infrastructure.
Details of the Hospital Strike
While Iran claims the target was a nearby military site, not the hospital itself, Israeli officials report numerous casualties. Israel’s health ministry indicated that 271 individuals suffered injuries in the strikes that occurred across multiple locations within the country. The damage to Soroka Medical Centre has prompted significant concern and condemnation.
- Iran claims targeting a military site nearby.
- Israel reports 271 injuries from the strikes.
- Strikes reported across several locations in Israel.
Statements from Israeli Officials
Following a visit to Soroka Medical Centre on Thursday, Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, asserted that Iran’s supreme leader “can no longer be allowed to exist.” This statement underscores the heightened rhetoric and escalating animosity between the two nations.
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Israel’s deputy foreign affairs minister described the Iranian attack on the Soroka hospital as “deliberate” and “criminal.”
Sharren Haskel stated in a post on X that the facility is the primary medical center for Israel’s entire Negev region.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel would “exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran,” while Defence Minister Katz alleged that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed – he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals.”
Damage Assessment and Hospital Operations
BBC correspondents on the ground reported extensive damage at the scene, noting debris and persistent plumes of smoke following the explosion.
- Several wards were completely devastated by fire.
- Windows shattered and ceilings collapsed within the affected building.
- Approximately 200 patients are being transferred to other medical facilities, according to Prof. Shlomi Codish, chief executive of the Soroka Medical Centre.
- Codish added, “At the moment we don’t know if buildings or other wards might collapse.”
Further Attacks in Ramat Gan
On Thursday morning, an Iranian ballistic missile struck the business district of Ramat Gan, east of Tel Aviv. The impact caused significant damage, including a large sheet of glass falling from a skyscraper and the collapse of a section of an electrical pylon.
Casualties in Ramat Gan
Authorities estimate that approximately 20 individuals sustained injuries as a result of the Ramat Gan blast.
Israeli Response: Targeting Iranian Nuclear Facilities
Israel’s military announced that it had targeted Iranian nuclear sites, specifically mentioning the “inactive” Arak heavy water reactor and the Natanz facility.
Warnings Issued Prior to Attacks
According to a post on X, the Israeli military stated it had urged residents of the Iranian cities of Arak and Khondab, located near the reactor, to evacuate “as soon as possible” before the strike.
Details of Targeted Nuclear Sites
The facilities targeted include a partially constructed heavy-water research reactor. Heavy-water reactors are known to produce plutonium, a substance that, like enriched uranium, can be used in the creation of nuclear weapons.
- Iranian media reported that two projectiles struck an area near the facility.
- No radiation threats were reported.
Natanz Facility Targeted
In a separate announcement, Israel’s military also stated that it struck a site in the Natanz area, which reportedly contains “unique components and equipment used to develop nuclear weapons.”
Allegations have surfaced that Iran has recently “taken steps to weaponize” its enriched uranium stockpile, a material that can be used for both power plants and nuclear bombs. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes.
Iran’s Response and International Implications
Iran’s armed forces have declared that their response to the Israeli attack will have “no limits.”
Additionally, Iran has filed a complaint with the UN nuclear watchdog, accusing Israel of “continuing its aggression and actions contrary to international laws that prohibit attacks on nuclear facilities,” according to Iranian state media.
Potential US Involvement
These recent attacks occur at a critical juncture, as President Trump contemplates the potential for direct American involvement in Israel’s campaign.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, cautioned the US that Tehran will have “no other option but to use its tools to teach aggressors a lesson” should it intervene in support of Israel.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has rejected Trump’s calls for surrender, and Iran has threatened to strike American military interests in the Middle East in retaliation.
While Trump has not yet provided a clear indication of his next course of action, CBS, a BBC partner, reports that he has approved plans to attack Iran but has delayed making a final decision.
On Wednesday, Trump responded to a question about US involvement in Iran by saying, “I may do it, I may not do it.”