On Thursday morning, Iran launched a reprehensible and unprecedented offensive against Israel, attacking with dozens of ballistic missiles in retaliation for an Israeli bombing of a nuclear facility on its territory.
One of the most shocking targets was the Soroka Medical Center, the largest hospital in southern Israel, located in the city of Beersheba, which suffered a direct hit and left dozens injured.
The Soroka Medical Center, essential for medical care in the south of the country, was directly hit by an Iranian ballistic missile, causing chaos, fires, and severe structural damage.
According to official reports, at least 25 people were injured inside the hospital, one of them seriously. The Israeli emergency medical organization, Magen David Adom, reported that the center had to temporarily close to new patients, except for life-threatening cases.
El bombardeo de Khamenei dejó al menos 25 heridos y un gran caos en la ciudad
Videos released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) showed dramatic scenes from inside the hospital: thick smoke, collapsed ceilings, and people running for safety. Witnesses described the moment of impact as a "devastating explosion" that affected emergency rooms, operating theaters, and critical care areas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack on the hospital as an atrocity and vowed harsh retaliation against Iran. "We will demand the full price from the tyrants of Tehran," he declared in a post on the social network X.
Defense Minister Israel Katz was even more direct in describing the bombing as a "most serious war crime" and stated that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, would be held responsible.
The Iranian bombing was a disproportionate response to the Israeli airstrike on the Khondab nuclear site, near the city of Arak, in central Iran.
The facility, which includes a heavy water reactor still under construction, could eventually produce plutonium for nuclear weapons. Israel had publicly warned of the attack hours earlier and issued an evacuation warning in Farsi directed at the Iranian population near the facility.
According to Iranian media, the plant was evacuated before the bombing and did not contain radioactive material, a fact confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which also reported that the nearby heavy water production plant was not hit.
The Iranian response included at least 25 missiles that struck different locations in Israel. In addition to the hospital, three other areas in the center of the country were also hit. The IDF deployed search and rescue units in multiple affected areas. In total, at least 65 people were injured in the Iranian attack, and 24 deaths have been confirmed in Israel since the start of this recent wave of violence.
El primer ministro de Israel condenó fuertemente los ataques
In recent days, Israel has intensified its military campaign against Iranian nuclear facilities in cities such as Isfahan and Natanz, as well as against senior military officials and scientists of the Iranian atomic program. The actions aim to weaken the nuclear and response capabilities of the Iranian regime.
President Donald Trump, amid international pressure, stated that he has not yet made a decision regarding United States participation in the conflict. Israel has requested military assistance, specifically bunker-buster bombs to attack underground facilities such as Fordow.
Meanwhile, in the latest wave of attacks launched by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, more than 20 missiles struck the areas of Tel Aviv and Najaf, including a direct attack on the headquarters of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in Ramat Gan.
The building suffered severe damage and was evacuated due to the risk of collapse, with at least 50 injured. This attack marks a new phase of the conflict, now also focused on financial infrastructure.
The TA-35 index fell by 3.7%, the Israeli shekel depreciated by more than 2% and trading on the stock exchange was temporarily suspended. The uncertainty triggered panic selling, especially in the financial and technology sectors, while investors sought refuge in gold, which reached USD 2,400.
The shock spread to global markets: the S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed with losses, Türkiye's BIST 100 fell 1.54%, and Asia experienced moderate declines. Fears of an escalation in the Strait of Hormuz pushed Brent crude oil to USD 94 and increased natural gas prices in Europe by 8%, raising global inflationary risks.
El precio del petróleo ya subió más de un 8% en respuesta a la posible extensión del conflicto al Estrecho de Ormuz
