Tel Aviv [Israel], June 19 (ANI): Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin on Thursday accused Iran of escalating hostilities by launching a sustained barrage of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) against Israeli civilian targets, including a direct strike on Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva.
“Early this morning, an Iranian ballistic missile directly hit Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva. This hospital serves over one million Israelis, including Bedouins, Jews, Christians, and Arabs alike,” Defrin stated, denouncing the attack as a blatant strike on a civilian medical facility.
Over the past six days, Iran has reportedly launched more than 450 ballistic missiles and hundreds of UAVs toward Israeli territory. “Iran targeting civilian centers with ballistic missiles is no surprise for us. They have openly declared their desire to destroy the State of Israel for decades now. These aren’t just words,” said Defrin, emphasizing the severity of the threat.
He underscored that Iran’s actions reinforce global concerns about its pursuit of nuclear capabilities. “This is exactly why we cannot and we will not allow this regime to obtain nuclear weapons or expand its missile arsenal,” Defrin stated, affirming Israel’s continued operations targeting Iranian nuclear weapons facilities, missile launchers, and military infrastructure.
While condemning Iran’s targeting of civilians, the IDF maintained that Israel’s strikes are aimed solely at countering existential threats. “Iran targets civilians. We target an existential threat that endangers global security. And we will prevail,” he added.
The Israeli Embassy in India also issued a strong statement following the hospital attack. “The Iranian regime attacked Soroka Hospital in Beersheba with a ballistic missile—this is a major medical center. We will not sit quietly. We will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect our people,” the embassy wrote on X.
According to reports from The Times of Israel, the Israeli Air Force launched a major retaliatory strike in western Iran, targeting ballistic missile infrastructure and Iranian soldiers. Around 20 IAF fighter jets participated in the operation. In a separate strike, an Israeli drone destroyed missile-laden trucks as they arrived at a launch site.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have sharply escalated, with both sides engaging in military action amid growing concerns over regional stability and international security. (ANI)
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