Iran-Israel Conflict Escalates: Nuclear Sites and Hospital Struck

The ongoing hostilities between Iran and Israel have entered their seventh day, with both nations launching fresh attacks, including strikes on medical and nuclear infrastructure.

Iran fired a barrage of missiles at multiple locations across Israel, injuring at least 240 people, according to Israel’s Ministry of Health. Among the injured, four are in serious condition, while the majority sustained minor injuries. One of the most heavily impacted sites was Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, southern Israel, where 70 people were treated. Iran claimed it was targeting a military installation in the area.

Missile impacts were also reported in at least six other locations, including Tel Aviv and its districts Holon and Ramat Gan, according to Israeli media.

In retaliation, the Israeli military confirmed its fighter jets carried out strikes on key sites inside Iran, including the Natanz nuclear facility and the Khondab heavy water nuclear reactor, formerly known as Arak.

According to the Israeli military, the strike on the Khondab reactor specifically targeted “the structure of the reactor’s core seal, which is a key component in plutonium production.”

Iranian state media reported that air defence systems were activated near the Khondab site and said two projectiles landed close to the facility. Authorities claimed there were no casualties and no risk of radiation, stating that evacuations had taken place prior to the strike. However, they did not confirm whether any damage occurred.

There was initial confusion regarding a possible Israeli strike on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant. An Israeli military spokesperson had said that the plant had been targeted, but later clarified the statement was “a mistake,” adding he could neither confirm nor deny the report.

This latest escalation follows an Israeli offensive a week ago on Iranian military and nuclear targets that killed senior Iranian officers and nuclear scientists. Iran’s response has included launching hundreds of missiles and drones toward Israel, many of which have been intercepted by Israel’s advanced air defence systems.

The Soroka Medical Center, one of southern Israel’s largest hospitals with over 1,000 beds and serving nearly one million people, reported “extensive damage” in several areas. The hospital stated that its emergency department was actively treating minor injuries, and it had been closed to new admissions except for life-threatening cases.

In anticipation of further attacks, hospitals across Israel have been implementing emergency measures. Underground parking lots have been converted into treatment areas, and patients—especially those in critical condition or dependent on ventilators—have been relocated to underground facilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Iran, declaring that its leadership would pay “a heavy price” for the strikes. Defence Minister Israel Katz took a step further, threatening to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, saying they would “eliminate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.”

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