Iranian Missile Strike Hits Hospital Near Tel Aviv, Escalating Regional Tensions

 An Iranian ballistic missile struck Ichilov Hospital in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area on Tuesday, June 17, killing at least 12 people and injuring dozens, according to Israeli authorities. 

The attack, part of a barrage of over 200 missiles launched by Iran targeting Israeli cities, marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, prompting global condemnation and fears of a wider war. Israel’s Iron Dome intercepted many missiles, but the hospital strike caused widespread devastation.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility, stating the attack was retaliation for Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iranian military sites in Syria and Lebanon. The missile, identified as a hypersonic Fattah-2, penetrated Israel’s multilayered defense systems, raising concerns about their efficacy. Ichilov Hospital, a major medical center, was partially evacuated, with patients transferred to underground bunkers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a “severe response,” while the IDF conducted retaliatory strikes on Iranian targets in Isfahan overnight, per Reuters.

The strike drew international outrage, with the UN Security Council scheduling an emergency meeting. U.S. President Donald Trump condemned Iran, pledging military support for Israel, while EU leaders called for de-escalation.