Strike hit military command centre next to Israeli hospital, says Iran’s foreign minster
We’ve been reporting on the strike at Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheba today, which happened during an Iranian attack overnight.
While Israel has accused Iran of a direct hit, Tehran has now said it struck a military command headquarters nearby – with the “blast wave” causing “superficial damage” to the hospital.
The hospital’s director general, Shlomi Kodesh, told reporters at the site that several wards have been destroyed and 40 people injured, mostly staff and patients.
Iran’s foreign minister said on social media there is damage to a “small section” of the “largely evacuated” facility, which he claimed is used mainly to treat Israeli soldiers.
“It is the Israeli regime and not Iran that initiated all this bloodshed, and it is Israeli war criminals and not Iranians who are targeting hospitals and civilians,” Abbas Araghchi added.
“Hundreds of innocent Iranians have been murdered in cold blood since Israel launched its illegal war against the Iranian people last week.”
He also called on Israelis to “heed our evacuation orders” before strikes and to “avoid proximity to military and intelligence sites”.
“Our powerful armed forces will continue to pummel the criminals who target our people until they cease and pay for their criminal aggression against our nation,” he said.
Trump responds to reports of attack plan – as Iran denies striking hospital
