Israel is condemning a recent attack on the civilian Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva by Iran's military.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), an Iranian intercontinental ballistic missile struck Soroka Hospital, causing heavy damage and injuring dozens.
Iranian officials reportedly claimed they were targeting nearby military bases.
Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz decried the attacks, fiercely declaring that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei should “cease to exist.”
"Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed, he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals,” said Minister Katz. "He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal...such a man can no longer be allowed to exist."
Iranian leaders, including Khamenei, have previously shamelessly voiced their intentions of “destroying” and bringing“death” to Israel, the US, and their allies.
IDF reports allege the besieged Soroka Hospital “serves over one million Israelis, including Bedouins, Jews, Christians and Arabs alike.”
“Iran targets civilians; we target an existential threat that endangers global security,” stated the IDF.
Iran has indiscriminately fired sundry inter-ballistic missiles against Israel as a response to Israel’s ongoing attacks targeting the former’s nuclear development programs.
While the US initially only supplied missile defense support for Israel, US officials are considering potentially joining strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The White House recently cataloged over 50 instances where President Trump expressed resolute opposition to Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.
The timing of the White House’s statement parallels the ongoing deployment of an additional US carrier strike group (CSG) to the Middle East.
The Nimitz CSG is en route to join the Vinson CSG in the Arabian Sea near Iran’s shores.
The last time two CSGs were together in the area, the US used them to target Houthi terrorists in nearby Yemen.
While some reports suggest the US will not join Israel’s attack unless Iran directly attacks American assets, moving the CSG Nimitz to the region has been described by military experts as a potential preparation for hostilities.
Trump has not publicly explicitly revealed whether the US will attack Iran or not, but recently expressed he seeks a “real end” to Iran’s nuclear development programs.
