Israel-Iran war HIGHLIGHTS: Israel's president calls Beer-Sheva Hospital attack a 'war crime'

President of Israel Isaac Herzog called Iran's missile strike on Beer-Sheva's Soroka Hospital Thursday morning a war crime.Herzog arrived at Soroka Hospital in Beer-Sheva this morning, where he was greeted by the Director of the hospital, Prof. Shlomi Kodesh, along with doctors, nurses, and patients, Jews and Muslims, from all walks of life from across the Negev, Israelis and Arabs, jews and Muslims."We stood together and looked at the destruction and devastation caused by an Iranian missile fired indiscriminately with the sole intention to take innocent lives in a hospital," he said.

Countries are evacuating their nationals from Israel and Iran by air, land and sea as conflict rages between the bitter rivals. Days of attacks and reprisals by the two enemies have shuttered airspace across the Middle East, severely disrupting commercial flights and leaving people unable to get in or out of the region easily. Some governments are using land borders to get their citizens out by road to countries where airports remain open. Thousands of foreigners have already left since the conflict started last Friday when Israel launched surprise missile strikes on Iran.

An Iranian missile hit the main hospital in southern Israel early Thursday, wounding people and causing extensive damage but no serious injuries, the medical facility said. Israeli media aired footage of blown-out windows and heavy black smoke. Other missiles hit a high-rise apartment building in Tel Aviv and other sites in central Israel. At least 240 people were wounded by the Iranian missiles, four of them seriously, according to Israel's Health Ministry. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz blamed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and said the military “has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist.” Israel, meanwhile, carried out strikes on Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, its latest attack on Iran's sprawling nuclear programme. Iranian state television said there was “no radiation danger whatsoever" and that the facility had been evacuated before the attack.

The open conflict sparked by Israel's sudden barrage of attacks against Iran's nuclear and military structure shows no signs of abating on the seventh day of hostilities between the two longtime foes that threatens to spiral into a wider, more dangerous regional war. An Iranian missile hit a hospital in southern Israel early Thursday, while others struck an apartment building in Tel Aviv and other sites in central Israel, wounding at least 40 people. The barrage led Israel's defence minister to overtly threaten Iran's supreme leader.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Thursday strongly condemned Israeli strikes on Iran and called for an immediate ceasefire, "especially" by Israel, and an end to attacks on civilians. In a phone call, Xi discussed the Israel-Iran conflict with Putin and said a ceasefire is an urgent priority in settling the conflict in West Asia, and the use of force is not the right way to resolve international disputes. This was Xi's first comment on the current conflict in the region, amid US President Donald Trump's warning to Iran and Israel's threat to target Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Presidents Putin and Xi "in their hour-long phone call have agreed to issue orders to their relevant agencies to share information on Iran,” Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said in Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to exchange sensitive information on the Iran-Israel conflict, the Kremlin said on Thursday. “President Putin and Xi Jinping in their hour-long phone call have agreed to issue orders to their relevant agencies to share information on Iran,” Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov announced. He said both leaders hold a similar stance and "strongly condemn Israel’s actions that violate the UN Charter and other norms of international law".

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “cannot continue to exist”. Katz spoke after the latest wave of Iranian missiles struck a hospital and wounded at least 40 people. “A dictator like Khamenei, who heads a country like Iran and has made the destruction of Israel his mission, cannot continue to exist,” Katz said. “The IDF has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist.” US officials said this week that President Donald Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Khamenei. Trump later said there were no plans to kill him “at least not for now”. 

Iran's foreign minister will meet with European counterparts in Geneva as an Israeli airstrike campaign continues to target his country, state media reported on Thursday. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will travel to Geneva for the meetings on Friday, the state-run IRNA news agency report.

The military conflict between Israel and Iran entered its seventh day on Thursday, with both countries continuing to launch attacks on each other's territory. Early Thursday morning, an Iranian missile struck Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel, causing significant injuries and extensive damage, according to an Israeli government spokesperson.

More than 30 people were injured when Soroka Medical Center, the largest hospital in southern Israel, was hit during a wave of Iranian strikes across the country. Read more

This morning, Iran's terrorist tyrants launched missiles at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and at a civilian population in the center of the country, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu said after Iranian missiles attacked two hospitals in Israel.

"We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran," he added.

Israeli emergency services have reported that at least 65 people were injured in the latest wave of Iranian strikes on Thursday. According to an update from Magen David Adom (MDA), three individuals are in serious condition, including an 80-year-old man and two women in their seventies.

Two others are reported to be in moderate condition, while 42 people sustained minor injuries from shrapnel and blast-related trauma. Additionally, 18 individuals were hurt while attempting to reach shelter, though their specific conditions were not detailed.

The Israeli Embassy in India issued a statement saying: "The Iranian regime has attacked Soroka Hospital in Beersheba with a ballistic missile. This hospital is a major medical centre, and targeting it is a blatant violation of international norms. We will not remain silent. Israel will continue to take all necessary measures to defend its people and ensure their safety."

Soroka Hospital in Beersheba - where Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Arab Bedouin receive care - was struck by an indiscriminate Iranian ballistic missile, and Israel will continue to take all necessary measures to protect its citizens from all communities, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

Iran fired “dozens” of ballistic missiles at Israel on Thursday morning, resulting in “several hits” on civilian areas, according to an Israeli military official.

The official confirmed that civilian population centres were struck, including Soroka Hospital in southern Israel.

Search and rescue teams from the Israel Defense Forces Homefront Command have been deployed to multiple impact sites to assist with emergency response efforts.

Iran fired “dozens” of ballistic missiles at Israel on Thursday morning, resulting in “several hits” on civilian areas, according to an Israeli military official.

The official confirmed that civilian population centres were struck, including Soroka Hospital in southern Israel.

Search and rescue teams from the Israel Defense Forces Homefront Command have been deployed to multiple impact sites to assist with emergency response efforts.

Israeli search and rescue teams are operating in multiple locations across the country following reports of projectile impacts from Iran’s latest missile barrage, according to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Footage from Reuters showed a multi-story building in Tel Aviv with visible damage. Debris was scattered on the road outside, and emergency responders had cordoned off the area.

An Iranian ballistic missile struck Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, causing extensive damage, according to visuals shared on social media.

“There has been a strike on the hospital and extensive damage in various areas,” a spokesperson for Soroka Hospital confirmed. “We are currently assessing the damage, including injuries.”

Hospital officials have urged the public to avoid the area as emergency teams respond to the situation.

Iranian state television reported on Thursday that Israel has carried out an attack on the Arak heavy water reactor.

According to the report, the facility had been evacuated prior to the strike and there is “no radiation danger whatsoever.”

Earlier in the day, Israel had issued a warning that it would target the site and urged civilians to leave the area.

A US Air Force E-4B “Nightwatch” aircraft, commonly referred to as the “Doomsday Plane,” landed at Joint Base Andrews late Tuesday night following an unusual flight from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, raising speculation about its purpose.

The E-4B functions as the National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC), a mobile command post designed for use by the US President and top military officials during nuclear war or national emergencies. Equipped to withstand electromagnetic pulses and nuclear blasts, the aircraft is typically deployed only during extraordinary events, such as the 9/11 attacks.

Iran experienced a widespread internet outage on Wednesday, with connectivity cut off for more than 12 hours, according to a report by the Times of Israel citing internet monitoring group NetBlocks. The watchdog described the disruption as a “near-total national internet blackout” that impacted most regions across the country.

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Israel’s military on Thursday issued a warning urging people to evacuate the area around Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor.

The alert was shared in a post on X and featured a satellite image of the facility marked with a red circle, similar to previous warnings issued before Israeli strikes.

The Arak heavy water reactor is located about 250 kilometres (155 miles) southwest of Tehran. Heavy water is used to cool nuclear reactors and can produce plutonium as a byproduct.

The US Embassy in Jerusalem stated Thursday morning (local time) that it currently has no plans to assist private US citizens trying to leave the country, as all airports and seaports remain closed amid the ongoing crisis.

In a June 19 statement posted on the State Department’s website, the embassy said, “We have no announcement about assisting private US citizens to depart at this time.”

The embassy added that the Department of State is “always planning for contingencies” and urged US citizens to register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

Russian President Vladimir Putin declined to address speculation about the possible assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Speaking to reporters at an economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin said he did not wish to consider the idea.

“I do not even want to discuss this possibility. I do not want to,” he told journalists, according to the BBC.

Australia has renewed its call for Iran to end any pursuit of nuclear weapons as it begins evacuating citizens from Israel, with nearly 3,000 Australians registered for assistance in the Middle East.

Speaking in Canberra on Thursday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government is working to move a small group out of Israel by land and hopes to evacuate more people within the next 24 hours, citing an “increasingly dangerous” situation in the region.

The Israeli Air Force is carrying out “a series of strikes” in Tehran and other parts of Iran, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) early Thursday.

Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that air defence systems had been activated over Tehran.

India announced launching 'Operation Sindhu' to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran as the Persian Gulf nation's conflict with Israel showed no sign of letting up. Even as India kicked off the evacuation mission, there were reports of some Indian students sustaining injuries in a strike on a medical students' dormitory in Keshavarz street area in Tehran.

Iran's supreme leader warned the United States that joining the Israeli strikes now targeting the Islamic Republic will “result in irreparable damage for them”. The comments by 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei came in a statement read aloud by a state television anchor against a still image of the leader. “Any military involvement by the US in this field will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage for them,” the anchor said, reading Khamenei's statemen

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei is set to address the nation shortly as tensions continue to escalate between Israel and Iran, according to a broadcast by Iranian state television.

Russia poses a direct threat to the European Union through acts of sabotage and cyberattacks, but its massive military spending suggests that President Vladimir Putin also plans to use his armed forces elsewhere in the future, the EU's top diplomat warned today. “Russia is already a direct threat to the European Union,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. She listed a series of Russian airspace violations, provocative military exercises, and attacks on energy grids, pipelines and undersea cables.

With assistance from the Embassy of India in Tehran, Indian students who were studying in Tehran and were initially relocated safely to Qom are now en route to Mashhad. From there, they will travel to Turkmenistan to board flights back to India. Meanwhile, some Indian students based in Urmia are making their way towards Armenia.

Indian diplomats and some residents in Mashhad are also expected to travel to Turkmenistan by road soon.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman issued a stark warning on Wednesday, stating that any American involvement in the ongoing Israeli strikes against Iran would trigger “an all-out war” in the region.

Esmail Baghaei made the remarks during a live interview on Al Jazeera English, marking his first public comments since the conflict erupted. “Any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region,” he said.

While former US President Donald Trump initially distanced himself from Israel’s attacks on Iran, he has recently suggested a potential escalation, stating that he wants “something much bigger” than a ceasefire. The US has also increased its military presence in the region by deploying additional warplanes.

Meanwhile, thousands of Israelis remain stranded overseas as regional flight disruptions continue amid the widening conflict.

A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry issued a warning Wednesday that an American intervention in the ongoing Israeli strikes targeting his country would spark ôan all-out war.ö Esmail Baghaei made the comments in an interview live on Al Jazeera English. It was his first in the ongoing conflict. Baghaei said: ôAny American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region.ö President Donald Trump initially distanced himself from Israel's attacks on Iran but has hinted at greater US involvement, saying he wants something ômuch biggerö than a ceasefire. The US has also sent more warplanes to the region.  Thousands of Israelis stranded abroad. The conflict has disrupted flight patterns across the region. (With AP inputs)

With the help of the Embassy of India in Tehran, the students who were studying in Tehran and were first safely relocated to Qom are now on their way to Mashhad, and from there to Turkmenistan to fly back home. Some students who were in Urmia are heading to Armenia. Diplomats and some residents of Mashhad are also expected to head to Turkmenistan soon by road.

Despite asserting significant gains against Iran’s military infrastructure, Israel is quickly running low on its stockpile of long-range missile interceptors, prompting concerns about the long-term viability of its defence systems, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited a US official familiar with allied intelligence assessments.

Iran has fired over 400 missiles and hundreds of drones at Israel since last Friday, following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets, according to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The attacks have impacted around 40 locations across Israel, leading to nearly 19,000 damage claims submitted to the country's tax authority.

Israeli officials report that 24 people have been killed, more than 800 injured, and over 3,800 residents have been evacuated from their homes.

Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have reported at least 224 deaths in Iran since the conflict escalated on Friday.

The United Arab Emirates has waived overstay fines for Iranian citizens, citing regional airspace closures caused by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, state media reported.

Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency has reported that Iran has launched Fattah missiles toward Israel.

Last year, Iranian media stated that Tehran had deployed a new missile, the Fattah-1, in strikes against Israel. The Fattah-1 is described by Tehran as a hypersonic missile, capable of travelling at Mach 5 — five times the speed of sound, or roughly 3,800 miles per hour (6,100 kilometres per hour).

The Israeli military spokesperson said on Wednesday, "We are now carrying out Operation 'Rising Lion' and have inflicted serious damage on Iran’s nuclear, ballistic, and command capabilities. We are targeting military bases."

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that hypersonic missiles were used in the recent attacks on Israel. "We have executed the 11th wave of Operation 'Honest Promise 3'," the statement said, claiming that Iran has gained full control over Israeli airspace.

WhatsApp has expressed concern over the Iranian government’s warning to citizens to stop using its platform, a company spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Iran’s state-run news agency IRIB reported that the regime had advised people to avoid using WhatsApp, Telegram, and other “location-based applications,” claiming these were among Israel’s primary tools for identifying and targeting individuals.

As the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel entered its sixth day, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared on social media, “The battle begins.” Hours earlier, US President Donald Trump had demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” called Khamenei an “easy target,” and warned that America’s “patience is wearing thin.”

President Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. knows where Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is hiding during the Israel-Iran conflict but doesn’t want him killed "for now." Trump urged, in a social media posting, Iran’s “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER” as the five-day conflict continues to escalate. "We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding," Trump added. "He is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don’t want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers. Our patience is wearing thin."

As tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate, the Indian Embassy in Tehran issued a fresh advisory on Tuesday, urging all Indian nationals in Iran to remain vigilant and prioritise their safety. The fresh advisory comes amid ongoing missile exchanges and airstrikes, which have raised serious concerns over regional stability and the safety of foreign nationals residing in conflict zones.

Israel is unwilling to look for mediation to switch its conflict with Iran on a peace track, a Russian Presidential aide said on Tuesday, amid escalating tensions between the two countries in West Asia. "At the moment, we see an unwillingness on the part of Israel, at the very least, to engage in any kind of mediation or to enter the peace path at all. This is what we have observed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a news briefing.

Israel will continue to do what is within its capabilities to "degrade" Iran's nuclear programme, the country's ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, said on Tuesday, amid escalating tensions between the two countries. At a briefing held here, he also said it would be better if a diplomatic solution could be achieved to halt the hostilities. The envoy said Israel took military action to "severely degrade" Iran's nuclear programme and missile capabilities, claiming it posed a "threat" to his country. "We'll continue to do what is in our capabilities to degrade Iran's nuclear programme," he told reporters when asked about the future course of the confrontation.

Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, several Indian nationals remain stranded in Iran. Among them, over 100 people hail from Alipur, a predominantly Shia Muslim village in Chikkaballapur district, Karnataka. They include students, families, and working professionals who had travelled to Iran for education, business, and religious pursuits. Indian authorities, along with the embassy in Tehran and local state officials in Karnataka, are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating safe arrangements for those stuck in the region.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that recent Israeli airstrikes have caused "direct impacts" on the underground centrifuge halls at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility. According to the IAEA, the extent of the damage is still being assessed, but the strikes have undoubtedly disrupted sensitive nuclear operations. Natanz has long been at the centre of global concerns regarding Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities.

In a major relief for families back home, all Indian students who had crossed the Iran-Armenia border have now safely arrived in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Among them are around 90 students from Jammu and Kashmir, along with others hailing from different states across India. The group, comprising approximately 110 students from Urmia Medical University, was received at designated accommodations and is now settled in hotels arranged for their stay. Indian authorities are actively coordinating the next phase of their return journey, with a special flight scheduled to bring the students from Yerevan to Delhi tomorrow. 

As tensions continue to escalate between Iran and Israel, the Indian government and the Indian Embassy in Tehran are working tirelessly around the clock to ensure the safe return of Indian nationals stranded in Iran. Approximately 10,000 people of Indian origin currently reside in Iran, with a majority living in cities like Tehran, Qom, and Bandar Abbas. Bandar Abbas, located near the strategic Chabahar Port, is home to a large Indian community. It's worth noting that India manages operations at the Shahid Beheshti terminal of the Chabahar Port, further emphasising the region’s significance to Indian interests. Among those in Iran are nearly 1,000 to 1,500 Indian students, many of whom hail from Jammu and Kashmir. In a coordinated rescue effort, 110 of these students have already been safely evacuated to Armenia. Plans are now underway to bring them back to India by air from there.

Downtown Tehran appeared to be starting to empty out today, with many shops closed. The city’s ancient Grand Bazaar was also closed, something that has only happened in the past during anti-government demonstrations or at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. On the roads out of Tehran to the west, traffic stood bumper to bumper. Many appeared to be heading to the Caspian Sea area. Long lines could also be seen at gas stations in Tehran.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi has stated that 224 civilians, including women and children, have been killed and 1,257 others injured so far in what it described as brutal attacks amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.

Iran has claimed responsibility for destroying strategic sites in Israel overnight using drones, as hostilities between the two nations entered their fifth consecutive day.

“Various types of destructive drones, equipped with precise targeting and destruction capabilities, struck strategic positions of the Zionist regime in Tel Aviv and Haifa,” said General Kioumars Heidari, speaking on state television.

There are about 10,000 to 12,000 Indians currently in Iran, including around 200- 300 people from the state of Karnataka. Most of them are students pursuing MBBS or religious studies, while some are there for business or pilgrimage. There are approximately 15 MBBS students and 25 students studying religious affairs & there families.

The Indian Embassy in Tehran is coordinating with all Indians in the country. Those who were in Tehran have mostly been relocated to Qom, a safer location. Evacuation options are being explored via land routes through Armenia and/or Afghanistan, and by sea via the UAE.

At least 45 Palestinians were killed while waiting for aid trucks in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials, as reported by the Associated Press.

Reports say that Mohammad Kazemi, head of the IRGC’s intelligence organization, and his deputy Hassan Mohakek are buried under the rubble following an Israeli airstrike on the corps' intelligence headquarters.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that Indian students in Tehran have been relocated from the city as a precautionary measure, citing safety concerns. These arrangements were made with the assistance of the Indian Embassy.

In an official statement, the MEA said, "Indian students in Tehran have been moved out of the city for reasons of safety, through arrangements made by the Embassy. Other residents who are self-sufficient in terms of transport have also been advised to move out of the city in view of the developing situation."

In a separate development, the ministry noted that some Indian nationals have been assisted in leaving Iran via the country’s border with Armenia.

The Embassy is actively monitoring the situation and maintaining close contact with the Indian community. "The Embassy remains continuously in touch with the community with a view to extending all feasible assistance," the statement added.

Given the evolving circumstances, the MEA said that further advisories may be issued as needed.

The Israel Defense Forces reported that they intercepted and “eliminated” 30 drones launched from Iran overnight.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, the military also stated that Iran had fired several ballistic missiles toward Israel during the night, though the exact number was not disclosed.

In a joint statement, G7 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Middle East peace and stability, backed Israel’s right to self-defence and security, stressed the need to protect civilians, and labelled Iran as the main source of regional instability, reiterating that it must never acquire a nuclear weapon.

"We, the leaders of the G7, reiterate our commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.  In this context, we affirm that Israel has a right to defend itself.  We reiterate our support for the security of Israel.

We also affirm the importance of the protection of civilians. Iran is the principal source of regional instability and terror. We have been consistently clear that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon," the statement read.

The foreign ministers of 20 Arab and Muslim nations have condemned Israel’s attacks on Iran and urged de-escalation in a joint statement, according to Egypt’s state news agency MENA.

Ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Bahrain, Brunei, Turkey, Chad, Algeria, the Comoros, the UAE, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Libya, and Mauritania expressed deep concern over the "dangerous escalation in the region."

Oil prices continued to rise and US futures dipped early Tuesday after the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning to 330,000 people in Tehran.

Asian markets showed mixed performance.

The warning targeted a section of Tehran, a city of 9.5 million, that includes the national broadcaster, police headquarters, and three major hospitals, one of which is operated by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. US President Donald Trump announced he would cut short his trip to the G7 summit in Canada and return to Washington a day early amid the escalating conflict.

Two explosions struck the northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz on Tuesday, according to local media, as the conflict between Iran and Israel entered its fifth day. The Ham Mihan newspaper reported that the blasts occurred five minutes apart. The Mehr news agency added that thick smoke was seen rising over the city on Tuesday morning following the explosions, sharing footage from the area, which hosts a major air force base.

For the second time in 5 days— the IDF has eliminated Iran’s War-Time Chief of Staff, the regime’s top military commander, the IDF said.

"Ali Shadmani, Iran’s senior-most military official and Khamenei’s closest military advisor, was killed in an IAF strike in central Tehran, following precise intelligence," it added.