Tehran: Iran deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi warned the United States against intervention in its war with Israel, backing the Zionist nation, on Thursday. Gharibabadi said that Iran is ready to defend itself in case of escalations.
He said that Iran’s military decision-makers have all the necessary options “on the table”.
The minister said that if the US wanted to actively enter the field in favour of the Zionist regime, Iran would have to use its tools to both teach a lesson to aggressors and defend its national security and national interests, Iran’s state TV reported.
In a sharp escalation of the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, a missile launched by Iran struck the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel early Thursday, injuring several people and inflicting significant damage. The hospital, which serves over a million residents, has temporarily restricted services, treating only critical cases due to damage across multiple departments.
Israeli media aired footage showing broken windows and smoke billowing from the facility. Meanwhile, other missile strikes damaged residential buildings near Tel Aviv, leaving at least 40 people wounded, as per emergency services.
The attack on the hospital came amid Israel’s own military campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The Soroka Medical Center’s emergency unit remains operational, though with limited capacity. Many Israeli hospitals had already activated contingency protocols, relocating patients and converting underground areas into emergency wards in anticipation of attacks. Iran has launched hundreds of drones and missiles toward Israel since the start of the conflict, most of which were intercepted. Still, key infrastructure has been impacted. Israel’s retaliatory strikes have targeted nuclear facilities, high-ranking military officers, and scientific personnel within Iran.