An Iranian missile struck the Soroka Medical Centre in southern Israel early on Thursday, causing extensive damage and injuring several individuals, an Israeli spokesperson said. The hospital, a key medical institution in the region with over 1,000 beds, serves nearly one million residents of Israel's south.
Television footage showed blown-out windows and thick black smoke billowing from the site, while emergency teams were seen working in the rubble. The incident marks one of the most direct hits on critical civilian infrastructure since the latest escalation between Iran and Israel began.
In separate attacks, Iranian projectiles also struck a high-rise apartment complex in Tel Aviv and other central Israeli locations. A Tel Aviv hospital reported receiving 16 injured, including three in critical condition.
In swift retaliation, Israel launched aerial strikes targeting Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, a significant component of the Islamic Republic's nuclear infrastructure. The assault is the latest in a series of Israeli strikes over the past week aimed at Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities. These strikes have reportedly killed top-ranking generals and scientists.
The Iranian state broadcaster confirmed the attack on the Arak site but reported “no radiation danger whatsoever.” A state television correspondent stationed in the nearby town of Khondab stated the facility had been evacuated and that civilian areas were unaffected.
Iran’s Arak reactor, located 250 kilometres south-west of Tehran, was redesigned following the 2015 nuclear accord to limit plutonium production. Though Tehran insists the facility is for peaceful purposes, heavy water reactors can yield plutonium—a potential component in nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials have urged the Iranian public to evacuate areas around nuclear facilities and confirmed that Thursday’s strikes targeted multiple locations including Tehran, without further detail.
Also read: US military strike on Iran likely, Trump’s approval awaited
The escalation comes amid heightened rhetoric from both sides. On Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader warned that American involvement would bring “irreparable damage,” even as United States officials signalled that a military intervention could occur as early as the weekend. US President Donald Trump, however, appeared non-committal, stating, “Nobody knows what I am going to do.”
Since the onset of hostilities, Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israeli territory. While Israel’s multi-layered air defence system has intercepted many, officials admit that the shield is not foolproof. Some missiles have managed to hit key locations, including Soroka Medical Centre.
Israel’s response has been relentless. Previous targets include Iran’s Natanz enrichment facility, Isfahan nuclear sites, and Tehran-based centrifuge workshops. The ongoing air campaign began with an unanticipated wave of Israeli strikes targeting military personnel and nuclear specialists.
According to a Washington-based Iranian human rights organisation, at least 639 people have died in Iran so far, including 263 civilians, with over 1,300 others wounded. Iranian attacks have claimed 24 Israeli lives and injured hundreds more.
In a further complication, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has appealed to Israel to refrain from attacking nuclear facilities. The agency last inspected Arak on 14 May but noted a lack of access and transparency that led to “continuity of knowledge” being lost regarding Iran’s heavy water stockpiles.
As the war intensifies, hospitals across Israel have activated emergency protocols, converting underground car parks into treatment wards, particularly for immobile and ventilated patients.
Follow us
