Israel and Iran exchanged heavy fire on Thursday, marking the seventh day of open conflict between the two long-time adversaries. The latest round of attacks has caused significant civilian casualties and sparked sharp international concern.
Hospital struck in southern Israel
One of the most devastating incidents occurred when a barrage of Iranian missiles struck southern Israel, hitting Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and leaving it in flames. Hospital director Shlomi Codish confirmed that 40 people were injured, with “several wards completely demolished” and extensive damage across the facility.
Iran claimed its intended target was a nearby military and intelligence base, not the hospital. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reiterated that hospitals must be protected under international humanitarian law.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk condemned the violence, saying, “It is appalling to see how civilians are treated as collateral damage.”
Israel escalates rhetoric against Iran's leadership
In response to the hospital strike, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Tehran would pay a “heavy price,” reiterating Israel’s commitment to neutralizing Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
Defence Minister Israel Katz went further, calling for the elimination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whom he accused of ordering the hospital attack. “Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist,” he said.
Former US President Donald Trump, speaking on the escalating situation, said the US knows Khamenei’s location but has no immediate plans to act: “Not for now.”
The inflammatory comments drew a strong warning from Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, who cautioned that any targeting of Iran’s supreme leadership would have “dire consequences for the region.”
Trump weighs in on conflict, considers military involvement
Trump also revealed he is considering joining Israeli strikes, while confirming that Iran has reached out for negotiations. “I may do it, I may not do it,” he said. The Wall Street Journal reported Trump has approved attack plans but is waiting to see if Iran will abandon its nuclear program.
Meanwhile, nuclear talks are scheduled for Friday in Geneva, involving top diplomats from Iran, the EU, and the E3 (Britain, France, and Germany).
Iran’s Guardian Council warned the US against intervening, threatening a “harsh response” if Trump takes military action. Russia also cautioned that US involvement would be “an extremely dangerous step.”
A senior US diplomat, Tom Barrack, warned Hezbollah against joining the conflict, stating in Beirut it “would be a very, very, very bad decision.”
Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and missile sites
The Israeli military announced it had struck an inactive nuclear reactor in Arak and targeted Natanz’s uranium enrichment facility once again overnight. The Arak strike, it said, aimed to prevent any future restoration of the reactor.
Netanyahu later claimed that Israel had destroyed more than half of Iran’s missile launchers since the conflict began.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards responded by launching over 100 drones, including combat and suicide drones, targeting Israeli locations.
Arrests on both sides
Authorities in Iran said they had arrested 24 individuals accused of spying for Israel and attempting to “tarnish the image of the Islamic Republic.” Both Iran and Israel have conducted arrests linked to espionage since the war began.
The NGO Iran Human Rights, based in Norway, reported at least 223 people have been detained in Iran on similar charges, though the actual figure may be higher.
As hostilities intensify, the risk of broader regional conflict looms, with the international community calling for de-escalation and urgent diplomatic intervention.
