Israel and Iran Exchange Heavy Fire as New Missile Waves Rock Haifa and Tel Aviv
Iran Launches 14th Missile and Drone Wave, Striking Israeli Military Targets; Dispute Erupts Over Hospital Hit in Beersheba.
Watan-In the early hours of Wednesday, the Israeli military reported detecting two new waves of Iranian missile fire, launched within a short timeframe. The second wave was announced shortly after the army had allowed residents across Israel to leave shelters, claiming that the immediate threat had passed.
During the first wave, air raid sirens sounded in the Golan Heights, Upper and Central Galilee, and Mount Carmel. Photos showed some of the missiles being intercepted over Haifa.
Israeli media outlets estimated that the first wave included 10 to 15 missiles, while the second wave had not yet reached Israeli airspace at the time of the report.
In parallel, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the launch of a new combined wave of missile and drone attacks targeting military sites in Haifa and Tel Aviv.
The IRGC stated that its drone operations were ongoing, using over 100 strike and suicide drones to target military installations and missile defense systems in both cities.
Human Toll and Hospital Strike
The Israeli Ministry of Health reported that at least 271 people were hospitalized Wednesday morning following the Iranian strikes.
Earlier that day, Iran had launched its largest missile and drone assault in 48 hours, hitting wide areas across Israel and causing dozens of injuries and significant destruction in Tel Aviv.
Conflicting Claims Over Soroka Hospital
Israeli officials and media reported that one Iranian missile struck Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, where injured soldiers from Gaza are being treated. According to reports, a building within the hospital collapsed as a result of the hit.
Israel accused Tehran of deliberately targeting the hospital, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing that Iran would “pay the price.” Israel’s Defense Minister held Iran’s Supreme Leader personally responsible, declaring: “He should not remain alive.”
However, Israel’s Ministry of Health later clarified that the hospital sustained only minor damage and light injuries, and its ability to operate was not significantly affected.
Netanyahu visited Soroka Hospital and stated:“We are striking nuclear and missile targets with precision, while they hit the children’s wing of a hospital. That’s the difference between a law-abiding democracy and those who seek our extermination.”
Iran Denies Targeting Hospital
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by saying the strike targeted the Israeli military command and intelligence headquarters located near Soroka Hospital. He confirmed that the hospital was mostly evacuated beforehand, and damage to it was superficial.
Iran’s UN mission issued a statement rejecting what it called “Zionist lies,” emphasizing that Iran abides by international humanitarian law and does not target civilians or civilian infrastructure.
Background: 14th Wave of Attacks
On Wednesday morning, Iran launched the 14th wave of missiles in response to Israel’s ongoing war that began last Friday.
Israel, with tacit U.S. backing, initiated a major offensive on June 13, striking residential buildings, nuclear facilities, missile bases, and carrying out assassinations of Iranian military leaders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.
That same evening, Iran began retaliating with ballistic missiles and drones, causing both casualties and widespread material damage.
