Iranian barrage strikes hospital in southern Israel as conflict enters day seven
TEL AVIV — Iran launched around 20 ballistic missiles at Israel early Thursday, marking the seventh day of conflict. The barrage appeared to be in direct retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
One of the missiles struck Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, causing a direct hit, according to Israeli officials.
Black smoke billowed from Soroka Medical Center following the strike, prompting emergency teams to evacuate patients from the facility, writes the Associated Press.
Two doctors reported that the missile struck shortly after air raid sirens sounded, causing a loud explosion audible even from inside a safe room.
The number of injured after a wave of Iranian missile strikes in Israel has risen to 65, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency services said.
According to MDA, among those injured, three individuals are in serious condition, including an elderly man and two elderly women, while two elderly women are in moderate condition. Additionally, 42 people have sustained light injuries from blast effects and shrapnel, and 18 civilians were injured while making their way to shelters. .
MDA teams are conducting sweeps in multiple locations to ensure there are no further casualties, a statement said.
Israeli police have confirmed emergency teams are currently responding to a significant incident in the Holon area, south of Tel Aviv.
Large-scale rescue operations are underway, with numerous security and emergency agencies coordinating efforts on site, police said.
So far, around 20 individuals have been evacuated with injuries ranging from minor to serious. Medical teams are treating casualties at the scene and transporting some to nearby hospitals.
Earlier, we reported that 10 casualties have been evacuated to Wolfson Medical Centre, with two people in serious condition.
Meanwhile, Israel's military issued a warning urging civilians to evacuate the area around Iran's Arak heavy water reactor. The alert was shared on social media and included a satellite image of the facility marked with a red circle.
Iranian state television later confirmed that the area had been hit, but reported there was 'no radiation danger whatsoever' and that the facility had already been evacuated before the attack.
Despite reports indicating further US involvement in the conflict, President Donald Trump said he has not yet decided whether to intervene militarily. Reports suggest he is weighing potential support for an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Wednesday that any US military involvement would cause 'irreparable damage to them.'
The UN's nuclear watchdog has confirmed that Iran's Arak heavy water research reactor was struck in a recent attack.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the facility was not operational and contained no nuclear material at the time, meaning there were "no radiological effects" from the strike.
The agency added that it has no information yet on whether the adjacent heavy water production plant was also hit.
The IDF confirmed they targeted the reactor, as well as a weapons development site near Natanz. — Agencies
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