By The Indian Hawk Media | The Israel-Iran conflict has entered its Eighth day, marked by a dangerous escalation as Iranian missile strikes caused extensive damage in central and southern Israel, while Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on Iran’s Arak heavy water nuclear reactor and a site near Natanz.
Iranian Missile Strikes Cause Civilian Casualties, Hospital Damaged
Early this morning, dozens of Iranian ballistic missiles rained down on Israel, with two towns near Tel Aviv and Soroka Hospital in southern Israel among the worst hit. Dr. Shlomi Kodesh, Director General of Soroka Hospital, confirmed widespread damage to hospital buildings.
The Israeli government confirmed that at least 240 people were injured, including four seriously wounded. Authorities also alleged that one missile carried a banned cluster bomb warhead, intensifying fears of illegal warfare tactics.
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In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation, vowing to “eliminate the Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile threat” and holding Tehran responsible for what Israeli officials are calling a clear breach of international humanitarian law.
Israel Targets Iranian Nuclear Facilities in Retaliatory Strikes
Overnight, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out significant airstrikes targeting Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, a key facility in Iran's nuclear infrastructure. A secondary target near Natanz, long suspected of nuclear enrichment activities, was also hit.
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Amid the strikes, Iran is facing a nationwide internet blackout, with online access down for over 24 hours, further fueling speculation about the scale of Israeli cyber and kinetic operations. Israel has not commented on the internet disruption.
In a dramatic escalation, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that eliminating Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is now a strategic war objective—a statement seen as a major shift from proxy conflict to direct confrontation.
Global Reactions and Warnings of Nuclear Catastrophe
The United Nations has expressed "deep concern" over the deteriorating situation. A UN spokesperson said the organization was “appalled by the treatment of civilians as collateral damage” and called for maximum restraint.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed the missile targeting near Soroka Hospital was aimed at a nearby military site, not the medical facility itself.
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International condemnation has grown. A joint statement by Indonesia and 23 Muslim-majority countries — including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, and Pakistan — condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran, calling for an immediate ceasefire. The declaration, issued by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), warned of the potential for the conflict to become a full-scale regional war.
Additionally, the head of Russia’s state nuclear energy agency warned that any Israeli strike on Iran’s only active nuclear plant in Bushehr could trigger a catastrophe akin to Chernobyl.
Diplomatic Talks Ahead
As global leaders scramble to de-escalate the crisis, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to meet with the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Geneva tomorrow.
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With no ceasefire in sight, the world watches anxiously as two of the Middle East’s most powerful nations edge closer to outright war, raising the specter of a broader regional and nuclear conflict.