 "Smoke billows from southern Israel hospital after reported Iranian missile attack. Reuters")
Iran has said that it did not aim to hit a hospital while striking Israel on Thursday, saying that its missile was meant to target military and intelligence bases.
Earlier today, Israel said that Iranian missiles hit Soroka Hospital , situated in the southern part of the country, causing damage to the health facility and leaving several people injured.
“The main target of the attack was the Israeli Army Command and Intelligence Base (IDF C4I) and the Army Intelligence Camp in Gav-Yam Technology Park, located in the vicinity of the Soroka Hospital,” state news agency IRNA said.
Airstrikes were also reported in the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Holon and Beersheba. A spokesperson for the hospital reported “damage to the hospital and extensive damage in various areas. We are currently assessing the damage, including injuries. We ask the public not to come to the hospital at this time”.
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At least 47 people have been left injured, with three people in serious condition and two in moderate condition. The attacks have drawn condemnation from several Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“This morning, Iran’s terrorist tyrants launched missiles at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and at a civilian population in the center of the country. We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran,” Netanyahu said.
Defence Minister Katz, meanwhile, said in a statement: “These are some of the most serious war crimes – and (Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei will be held accountable for his actions.”
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More Shorts“The Prime Minister and I have ordered the (military) to intensify strikes against strategic targets in Iran and against the power infrastructure in Tehran, in order to eliminate the threats to the State of Israel and to shake the ayatollahs’ regime,” he added.
Israel’s national ambulance service said that the floor of the hospital, which was hit on Thursday, had been evacuated a day earlier. According to reports, over 20 missiles were launched from Iran earlier on Thursday.
With inputs from agencies