ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Israel-Iran conflict entered its seventh day on Thursday, with the latest attack being an Iranian “ballistic missile” strike that targeted Soroka Medical Center, the largest hospital in southern Israel.
In a statement on its official X account, the Israeli government said that “the Iranian regime targeted Soroka Hospital in Beersheba with a ballistic missile - hitting a major medical center.”
“We will not stand by. We will continue doing what must be done to defend our people,” it added.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also noted on X that “several hits were identified” in the Iranian missile barrage. Less than an hour prior, the IDF said that “millions of Israelis across the country are currently running to shelter as sirens sound due to a missile launch from Iran.”
According to Israel’s National Emergency Service, the attack left 44 people injured, three critically.
For its part, the state-run Iranian news agency (IRNA) said that “the main target” of the attack was “the Israeli army’s leadership and intelligence headquarters” in Kaf Yam, a site located adjacent to Soroka Hospital.
Hours earlier, the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) had reported that Israel struck the Khondab Heavy Water Research Reactor, previously known as Arak. The partially-constructed facility is part of Iran’s nuclear program that has not yet been activated.
Ahead of the Israeli strikes, the IDF issued an “immediate warning” in Farsi to “employees and all people” in Arak and Khondab, urging them to evacuate the area. It added that the Israeli forces were “operating in this area” and that citizens should leave “as soon as possible.”
“Your presence in this area puts your life at risk,” the IDF concluded.
Over the night, Iranian missiles also caused fires in central Israel, including buses ablaze in Herzliya. Iranian media claimed a military target, while Fars News Agency named Meron Airbase in northern Israel.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that its Fattah hypersonic missile penetrated Israeli air defenses, declaring "complete control over the country’s skies." Iranian outlets reported explosions over Tel Aviv, along with a parking lot fire.
Concurrently, explosions were reported in Tehran, where Israel said it targeted a centrifuge production site and several weapons manufacturing facilities.
On Tuesday night, over 50 Israeli Air Force jets carried out what the IDF described as a “massive attack,” striking facilities believed to produce missile raw materials. Iranian media reported attempts to intercept Israeli air raids over Tehran, Tabriz, and Bushehr.
Israel also issued forced evacuation warnings for District 18 of Tehran and previously for the vicinity of Arak and Khondab.
Iranian media also reported on internet outages in Iran which they claimed were caused by a cyberattack, complicating public access to evacuation information.
Since the escalation began last Friday, Iran reports that approximately 224 people – mostly civilians - have been killed and 1,300 injured in Israeli strikes across the country. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities say at least 24 civilians have been killed and 600 injured since the conflict began.
