Iran Strikes Israeli Hospital, Netanyahu Warns: 'Iran Will Pay the Price'
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) – Iran has stated that its recent strikes on southern Israel targeted Israeli military intelligence facilities and not a hospital. Iran’s state-run news agency IRNA reported on Thursday that some media outlets were spreading false information. According to IRNA, the attacks were aimed at the Israeli Army's C4I Telecommunications Corps headquarters and an intelligence unit. The agency clarified that the hospital mentioned in the reports was only affected by the impact of the blast and was not deliberately targeted.
Meanwhile, following the Iranian attack on the Beersheba hospital in central Israel, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant issued a bold statement, declaring that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will now be targeted. His announcement came shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation. According to The Jerusalem Post, Gallant held Khamenei personally responsible for the hospital attack, calling it a war crime and promising that Khamenei will pay the price.
The defence minister added that Iran's use of hypersonic missiles proves it has no intention of backing down, and Israel is preparing to strike Iran in a new way. He further said that Israel will shake the very foundation of Khamenei’s regime, no matter what it takes, and eliminate all potential threats against the Israeli state. Just before Gallant’s remarks, Netanyahu had issued a statement declaring that Iran will face severe consequences.
In retaliation for attacks on Tehran, Iran struck an Israeli hospital on Thursday. According to Israeli officials, six people were critically injured and over 20 sustained minor injuries. The hospital was reportedly destroyed. Iran claimed that the hospital was located within an IDF command zone, justifying the strike. As tensions escalated, Iran International reported that Ayatollah Khamenei, along with his entire family, had taken shelter in the Lavizan bunker in Tehran, located near a nuclear site and adjacent to the Iranian Army’s main headquarters.