Tensions surge as Iranian missile strikes Israeli Hospital

A missile launched by Iran or its allied militant networks struck Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva during the early hours of Thursday, damaging the facility and injuring dozens.

This attack, one of the most direct assaults on Israeli civilian infrastructure since the latest round of conflict began, also impacted surrounding areas, including residential neighbourhoods in central Israel  .

Israeli authorities have denounced the strike as a deliberate act of terror, asserting that the hospital was targeted in close proximity to a military intelligence installation nearby  . Initial reports indicate approximately 271 individuals sustained injuries, many of them minor, though several were more seriously harmed  .

The attack followed earlier Israeli air raids targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites, including reactors and missile-production facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, Arak, and Tehran.

Israel’s military has signalled its intent to intensify strikes against Tehran’s strategic assets in retaliation.

Defence officials have also warned the public of the threat posed by cluster munitions released by the Iranian missile, citing potential unexploded bomblets across a wide area.

Israel subsequently declared a state of emergency and activated a comprehensive civil defence response.