A wave of Iranian missile strikes hit southern and central Israel early Thursday, June 19, injuring at least 47 people and damaging a major hospital and residential areas near Tel Aviv, according to rescue officials and Israeli authorities.
Among the targets was Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, a key hospital in southern Israel that also treats soldiers wounded in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, warning that Iran would “pay a heavy price” for what he called an assault on civilians and medical infrastructure.
“This morning, Iran’s terrorist dictators fired missiles at Soroka Hospital… and at civilians in the centre of the country,” Netanyahu posted on X. “We will make the tyrants in Tehran pay a heavy price.”
A spokesperson for Soroka confirmed damage to the hospital and urged the public to avoid the facility while the extent of the destruction and casualties was being assessed. Video from AFP showed smoke rising from the hospital complex.
In addition to Beersheba, missiles struck the towns of Ramat Gan and Holon, both near Tel Aviv. Images from the scene showed shattered buildings and debris on the streets. Israeli emergency service Magen David Adom (MDA) reported that at least 47 people were injured in the strikes, with three in serious condition and two in moderate condition. Another 18 people sustained injuries while rushing to take shelter.
“These are some of the most serious war crimes,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said. “Khamenei will be held accountable for his actions.” Katz added that Israeli forces had been instructed to intensify strikes on strategic targets in Iran, including infrastructure in Tehran, in an effort to dismantle what he described as a threat from the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
Sirens blared across Israel on Thursday morning as dozens of ballistic missiles were detected. Loud explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem around 7:10 a.m. local time as air defence systems responded to incoming fire.
The attacks mark a significant escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran, which have intensified since the outbreak of war last Friday. This latest exchange adds to growing concerns about the conflict spilling beyond the region’s borders.
