By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Iran launched about 20 powerful ballistic missiles toward Israel, and at least one of them struck Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel, officials and witnesses said.
“Our closest hospital took a direct hit just now, Soroka Hospital in Beersheva… Two of my dear friends are nurses there, and one who is a patient,” said Gospel singer and musician Baht Rivka Whitten, the wife of Worthy News agency founder George Whitten.
“My family is all staying together, just a few miles (kilometers) away from there at my sister’s home because she’s the only one with a bomb shelter,” she added.
Footage reviewed by Worthy News showed smoke rising above the building after what appeared to be a direct hit on the Soroka Hospital in Beersheba.
There was damage to the hospital, “along with extensive damage in various other areas,” the Soroka Hospital spokesperson stated in remarks published by Israeli media.
Footage appeared to confirm these observations. Panicked-stricken people, including patients, visitors, and staff, some crying, could be seen running in the smoke-filled and damaged Soroka Hospital.
WOMAN CRYING
Video also emerged of doctors inspecting the damage outside, confirming that part of the hospital and nearby buildings were destroyed.
It was not immediately clear if any of the patients or staff members had been killed or injured, but Worthy News witnessed at least one woman crying as she and several others physically struggled to flee the area.
As several other direct impacts were reported, large blasts were heard across central Israel.
At least 25 people were lightly wounded from those impacts across the country, Israel’s leading rescue service, Magen David Adom (MDA), said.
Back in Beersheba hospital, the staff were struggling with the damage. “There is damage to the hospital and widespread damage in several areas. We are assessing the situation, including possible injuries. Please do not come to the hospital at this time,” Soko Hospital added.
It came as a significant blow for Israel’s doctors, who already struggle to tend to hundreds of Israelis who were injured since Iran began attacking Israel on Friday in response to Israel’s strikes.
IRAN THREATS
Ahead of Thursday’s strikes, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, “The battle begins,” on social media platform X, sharing an image of a man holding a sword entering a castle-like gate.
Khamenei’s post is a reference to the first imam of Shia Islam and his conquest of the Jewish town of Khaybar in the 7th century.
He warned Israel that fast-forward Iran would also show “no mercy” to what he called a “terrorist Zionist regime.”
Thursday’s apparent ability for Iran to still strike Israel hard came despite Israel’s military saying it has already destroyed large portions of Tehran’s nuclear program, as well as its ballistic missile and drone program.
Israel also says it killed nine of Khamenei’s top 13 military officials, dozens more senior and medium-level officials, and his entire anti-aircraft defense network of over 70 platforms.
The Israeli government says the operation is aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons and reducing its regional and global threat.
“Please continue to pray for all my cousins, nieces, and nephews serving in the [Israel Defense Forces] IDF right now. Thank you for your prayers!!” Baht Rivka Whitten added on social media.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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