Israeli PM Netanyahu Promises Retaliation After Missile Strike on Soroka Hospital

Escalating Tensions: Iran's Missile Attack on Israel

Tel Aviv: On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a strong retaliation against what he termed the 'terrorist tyrants' in Tehran, following a ballistic missile strike from Iran that targeted the Soroka Medical Centre, Israel's largest hospital located in Beersheba. The attack resulted in serious injuries to numerous patients, medical staff, and doctors.

As the conflict between Israel and Iran reached its seventh day, reports indicated that Iran had launched approximately 30 ballistic missiles aimed at various locations within Israel.

One missile directly impacted the Soroka Hospital complex, inflicting significant damage, especially to its older surgical wing.

Currently, emergency services are limited to critical cases, while soldiers from the Home Front Command are conducting structural assessments of the facilities.

In a statement on X, Netanyahu remarked, 'This morning, Iran's terrorist tyrants targeted Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and civilian areas in central Israel. We will make the tyrants in Tehran pay dearly for this.'

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also condemned the missile strike, accusing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei of orchestrating attacks on civilians.

'The cowardly Iranian dictator hides in a fortified bunker while launching targeted strikes at hospitals and residential areas in Israel. These actions constitute serious war crimes, and Khamenei will be held accountable,' Katz stated on X.

'The Prime Minister and I have directed the IDF to escalate attacks on strategic and governmental targets in Iran to eliminate threats to Israel and weaken the ayatollahs' regime,' he added.

The missile assault has sparked outrage among Israel's medical and political sectors.

Zion Hagay, Chairman of the Israel Medical Association, labeled the attack a clear war crime and called for a robust international response.

'The world must focus on Soroka Hospital in Beersheba to comprehend the reality of a war crime,' Hagay emphasized.

'While Israel targets military objectives, the Iranians intentionally strike civilian areas to maximize harm to non-combatants,' he continued.

He praised the hospital's emergency preparedness for preventing what could have been an even more devastating incident.