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Health Minister Uriel Buso said Thursday that the missile strike on Soroka Medical Center was a “war crime” by Iran, deliberately targeting civilians and medical staff.
“The missile attack on Soroka is an act of terror and a red line crossed,” Buso said. “This was a war crime by the Iranian regime, deliberately aimed at innocent civilians and medical teams.” He added that prior planning by the health ministry prevented what could have been a major disaster.
The Iranian missile that struck Soroka hospital hit an old surgical building that had been evacuated one day earlier due to safety concerns, Israeli officials said Thursday.
Patients and staff were moved to a safer location on Wednesday, anticipating a possible strike. Magen David Adom director Eli Bin said the health ministry had also ordered further evacuation of the affected floor the night before the attack, helping save lives.
Iran's main targets in Thursday morning’s missile attack were the Israeli military’s command and intelligence headquarters, as well as an intelligence camp located near Soroka hospital in southern Israel, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported.
Israeli police are urging residents in southern Israel to stay away from missile impact sites due to concerns over possible hazardous material leaks, following a wave of Iranian missile attacks.
Southern District Commander Haim Bublil said forces are managing the scenes and scanning for additional impact points. Authorities warned that gathering near the sites could pose serious risks and interfere with bomb disposal and emergency operations.
An area near Iran’s Khondab heavy water facility was targeted, ISNA reported on Thursday. Officials said the site had been evacuated in advance and there is no radiation risk. The report came shortly after the Israeli military issued a Farsi-language warning urging residents of Arak and Khondab in central Iran to evacuate.
