Israel Vows Retaliation as Iranian Missile Hits Hospital
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Iran will “pay a heavy price” after an Iranian missile strike hit Soroka Hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, injuring dozens and causing extensive damage. The strike came amid an ongoing and deadly escalation between the two regional powers.
“This morning, Iran’s terrorist dictators fired missiles at Soroka Hospital and at civilians in the centre of the country. We will make the tyrants in Tehran pay a heavy price,” Netanyahu said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).
According to hospital director Shlomi Kodesh, a surgical building — previously evacuated in anticipation of attacks — was struck during the early morning barrage. “Several wards were completely demolished,” Kodesh said, adding that at least 40 people were injured and there was widespread structural damage throughout the medical complex.
Israel’s Defense Minister also warned that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would be “held accountable” for the assault. Tehran, however, claimed the missiles were intended for an Israeli military and intelligence base, not civilian infrastructure.
The missile attack came on the seventh day of sustained hostilities between Israel and Iran, which have included airstrikes, drone swarms, and cyberattacks. Israeli officials said Iran has launched approximately 400 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones since the conflict began, with around 20 missiles landing in civilian areas. Iran claims that Israeli strikes have killed over 224 people, including military officials, scientists, and civilians.
In response, Israel launched fresh raids early Thursday on Iranian targets, including a strike on the unfinished Arak nuclear reactor and another on the Natanz nuclear facility. The Israeli military said the objective was to prevent Iran from restoring and weaponizing these sites.
As tensions mount, the international community watches closely. U.S. President Donald Trump has kept global leaders guessing about possible American involvement.
“I may do it, I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do,” he said on Wednesday, adding, “The next week is going to be very big.”
Trump reportedly approved plans for U.S. strikes earlier in the week but delayed their execution, hoping Iran would agree to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
While Trump claimed that Iranian officials had shown interest in negotiations, Tehran has denied any such outreach and rejected U.S. demands for an “unconditional surrender.”
The White House said Trump would receive an intelligence briefing Thursday — a national holiday in the U.S. — as pressure grows on Washington to take a clear stance.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet with his British counterpart for talks centered on the spiraling conflict.
The war has also disrupted Iranian communications. On Wednesday, a near-total internet blackout was reported, with Iranian media confirming tighter restrictions following earlier curbs.
Russian President Vladimir Putin urged diplomacy, saying a deal could be reached to address Israel’s security concerns and Iran’s pursuit of a civilian nuclear program.
“We must find ways to stop the fighting and seek an agreement,” Putin said.
The crisis has reignited international debate over nuclear proliferation. While Iran denies pursuing nuclear weapons, it has enriched uranium up to 60% purity — far above the 2015 nuclear deal’s 3.67% limit, but short of weapons-grade. Israel, which maintains nuclear ambiguity, is estimated by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute to possess around 90 nuclear warheads.
With each side suffering casualties and destruction, the conflict continues to deepen, pushing the region closer to a wider war — and the world toward a critical geopolitical crossroads.
