A missile strike early this morning shattered the calm at Soroka Hospital in southern Israel, leaving two people seriously injured and around 40 others hurt, according to emergency services.
The missile, believed to be part of a broader attack by Iran, struck a part of the hospital compound that had recently been evacuated. Iranian state media claimed the intended target was an IDF command and intelligence center located near the hospital.
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister shared video footage from inside the hospital, revealing scenes of extensive destruction—damaged buildings, shattered windows, and smoke rising from the blast site.
Speaking to reporters, Professor Shlomi Kodesh, Director of Soroka Hospital, described the moment the missile hit.
“At 7 o’clock this morning, a missile struck the hospital’s old surgical building. Thankfully, this area had been cleared out days ago. Still, the blast caused serious damage to the structure and to nearby buildings. Fortunately, all our patients and staff were in protected areas. Most of the injuries we’ve treated so far are minor.”
“This is a major incident,” said Haim Boblil, Commander of the Southern District Police. “We’re combing through the entire hospital to check for any missing persons and to ensure everyone is accounted for.”
“The situation is under control,” he said. “The impact was serious, but all emergency and security services are responding swiftly. The hospital staff are doing an exceptional job, and the Health Ministry is fully involved.”
Despite the heavy damage, the hospital remains operational, with its teams continuing to provide care under extraordinary pressure.