Russia has issued a stern warning to the United States on Thursday, cautioning against any “military intervention” in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. According to an AFP report, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that such a move would be “an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences”.
Moscow has also urged Israel to cease its airstrikes targeting the Bushehr nuclear plant. This plea comes as Russian experts are currently working at the facility, which is Iran’s sole operational nuclear power plant. Bushehr utilizes Russian fuel, which is then returned to Russia after use to mitigate nuclear proliferation risks.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has declared that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, “can no longer be allowed to exist.” This strong statement comes after an Iranian missile attack reportedly struck the Sokora hospital, according to media reports.
Katz said, “Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed, he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals. He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal…Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist.”
Earlier, an Iranian missile slammed into the main hospital in southern Israel early Thursday causing “extensive damage” but no serious injuries, according to the medical facility. Israeli media aired footage of blown-out windows and heavy black smoke.
Other missiles hit a high-rise building and several other residential buildings in at least two sites near Tel Aviv. At least 40 people were wounded in the attacks, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service.
Two doctors said the missile struck almost immediately after air raid sirens went off, causing a loud explosion that could be heard from a safe room. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief media.
The hospital said the main impact was on an old surgery building that had been evacuated in recent days. After the strike, the medical facility was closed to all patients except for life-threatening cases, it said. Soroka has over 1,000 beds and provides services to around 1 million residents of Israel’s south.
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