Black smoke lingered in the air at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba hours after a missile reportedly fired by Iran struck the facility. The attack, which Iran denies targeting, resulted in scattered pieces of metal shrapnel across the surrounding area, prompting an emergency response from medical teams and local authorities.
Medical vehicles lined the roads as military, police, and rescue personnel moved quickly to aid those affected. Alon Uzi, a patient in the hospital’s emergency department at the time of the attack, described the chaos, stating, “I was lying in bed, and I heard a big boom... There was no time to get out of bed.” The blast injured 71 individuals, with patients being evacuated on stretchers amidst the destruction inside.
Professor Asher Bashiri, the director of the maternity ward, reported significant damage to the hospital's structure, describing it as “unbelievable.” He recounted that patients had been moved to underground emergency shelters shortly before the missile hit, noting their fortunate timing.
Hospital director Shlomi Codish confirmed that the northern surgical building sustained major damage and announced plans to transfer over 200 patients to other medical facilities, emphasizing the uncertain safety of the hospital's structure.
Culture Minister Miki Zohar was among many officials visiting the site, condemning the Iranian regime as a threat to innocent lives and vowing a strong retaliatory response. Zohar's assertions came amid ongoing international scrutiny regarding Israel's military actions, including past bombings of hospitals in Gaza, where Israeli forces allege Hamas abuses civilian facilities for military purposes.
The escalating tensions between Israel and Iran follow a series of missile strikes intended for military targets, prompting accusations from Israeli leaders that Iran's supreme leader is committing severe war crimes. With the U.S. President Donald Trump contemplating military action, the potential for broader conflict looms as both nations demonstrate their willingness and capability to escalate the situation significantly.
