Hospital in Iran not specifically targeted; alleged objective was Israeli intelligence operations.
In a sharply worded tweet on Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed that the early morning attack dismantled an Israeli intelligence hub, not Soroka Hospital as initially feared. However, the hospital sustained superficial damage due to the blast.
Araqchi's X account declared, "Our armed forces have just annihilated a military command, control, and intelligence headquarters of the Zionist regime, and another vital target."
The Soroka Medical Center, located in southern Israel, experienced minor damage from the explosion, with a small section of the facility affected and most patients evacuated.
The Times of Israel reported that the nearest military base was around two kilometers from the hospital, but Araqchi challenged this claim by posting a map showing the hospital was separated from an Israeli army intelligence campus by a street.
The Israeli Ministry of Health reported that the attack left 71 lightly injured and one person seeking help for anxiety. Drawing criticism for the strike, the Ministry highlighted that Soroka Hospital is one of the best in Israel.
However, Iran justified the center's exploitation as it serves to treat Israeli soldiers involved in reported genocides in Gaza. In the past, Israel has been accused of damaging or destroying nearly 94% of Palestinian hospitals[1][2].
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called for respect and protection for medical facilities, emphasizing that healthcare facilities must be safeguarded during times of war.
On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Iran of committing a "war crime" by targeting civilians, including children and the elderly. Saar visited Soroka Hospital, stating that Iran's strategic approach includes targeting civilians, including in the bombing of a surgery building at the hospital, where lives were being saved.
Yet, the Iranian regime maintains that its attacks target only military sites denying deliberately targeting Soroka Hospital. Independent verification to confirm the intent behind the attack remains absent, with the conflict context making it difficult to reach a definitive conclusion[1][2].
[1] News reporting on the Soroka Hospital incident and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.[2] Historical data on Israel's treatment of Palestinian hospitals and healthcare infrastructure.
Araqchi's X account contended, "Our forces targeted a military command, control, and intelligence headquarters of the Zionist regime, in the realm of war-and-conflicts and politics."
In the midst of a dispute about the intent behind the attack on Soroka Hospital, the Iranian regime asserted, "We only target military sites, and general-news reports of the incident should reflect this justice-and-crime perspective."
