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Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Explained: What is a cluster bomb? The weapon Iran used in missile strike on Israel
This is an AI-generated image, used for representational purposes only. The ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran took a concerning turn on Thursday when the Israeli military claimed that Iran had fired a missile armed with a cluster munition warhead at a populated area in central Israel, marking the first such reported use in the current conflict. The missile struck Or Yehuda and nearby towns, scattering bomblets across residential zones, as per The New York Times. While there were no reported casualties, the deployment of such a weapon, widely considered dangerous and indiscriminate, triggered immediate international concern. According to Israeli officials, the warhead released multiple submunitions over a wide radius, including areas near a hospital and on residential properties. The Home Front Command warned civilians that unexploded bomblets remain a threat and could still detonate. According to The Times, videos show several impact craters, and unexploded ordnance resembling known submunitions from Iranian ballistic missiles was also found. What are cluster bombs? Cluster bombs, also called cluster munitions, are explosive weapons that disperse smaller bombs, known as submunitions or bomblets, over a wide area before impact. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Experts Urge Seniors With Muscle Loss To Take This Key Nutrient Daily Native Creatine Learn More Undo These bomblets are designed to explode upon hitting the ground or after a delay. However, many fail to detonate, remaining live and lethal for months or even years, posing long-term risks to civilians. As per the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs, cluster bombs are either air-dropped or ground-launched and can saturate areas as large as several football fields, making them particularly lethal in densely populated areas. 'They are egregious weapons with their wide-area destruction… especially if used in a civilian populated area,' said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, as quoted by Reuters. The submunitions, often grenade-sized with fins or streamers for stabilisation, are designed to cause damage to both personnel and unarmoured vehicles. Some modern versions, like the US-made DPICM, feature dual-purpose charges for added effect. But the biggest controversy lies in their high 'dud rate', failure to explode on impact, which turns them into de facto landmines. Dud rates can range from 2% to 40%, depending on the manufacturer, according to the American think tank Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Why are they banned? The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which entered into force in 2010, bans the use, development, production, acquisition, and transfer of cluster munitions. So far, 111 countries and 12 other entities have signed the treaty. But key nations, including Israel, Iran, the United States, Russia, China, and India, have not joined. As per the United Nations, 99% of declared global stockpiles have been destroyed under the treaty. Human Rights Watch's Bonnie Docherty explained that cluster munitions "cannot distinguish between soldiers and civilians because they spread their submunitions over a wide area and leave behind unexploded submunitions that endanger civilians… like land mines.' Israel has previously used cluster bombs, most notably during the 2006 Lebanon war. More recently, both Russia and Ukraine have employed them in their ongoing war, and the US controversially supplied Ukraine with cluster munitions in 2023, as per CSIS. Iran's alleged use of a cluster-armed missile, likely a Qiam or Khorramshahr, which can carry dozens of submunitions, suggests a shift in military strategy to maximise target area coverage, even at the risk of civilian harm. 'Sometimes you might not need that much destructive force,' said Fabian Hinz of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. 'Just having a geographical spread… could be worth it,' he was quoted as saying by The New York Times. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, without using the term "cluster," confirmed that a 'fragmenting warhead' had been used, describing the submunitions as 'smaller bombs that if you touch them they explode.' As both Iran and Israel escalate military operations, the use of such controversial weapons signals not only increased intensity but raises humanitarian alarms over the long-term dangers to civilians, dangers that may persist well after the last missile falls.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Trump decision 'within two weeks' on Israel/Iran war
US President Donald Trump says he will decide 'within two weeks' whether the US military will get directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, leaving a space open for the two sides to de-escalate. Trump has been weighing up whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but US "bunker-buster" bombs. His statement was read out by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Earlier in the day, Israel's defence minister threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after Iranian missiles crashed into a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, wounding at least 240 people. Israel's military "has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist," Defence Minister Israel Katz said. As rescuers wheeled patients out of the smouldering hospital, Israeli warplanes launched their latest attack on Iran's nuclear program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he trusted that Trump would "do what's best for America." Speaking from the rubble and shattered glass around the Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba, he added: "I can tell you that they're already helping a lot." A new diplomatic initiative appeared to be underway as Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi prepared to travel to Geneva for a Friday meeting with counterparts from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union's top diplomat. Britain's foreign secretary said he met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House to discuss the potential for a deal that could cool the conflict. "A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution," Britain's David Lammy said in a social media post after Thursday's meeting. The open conflict between Israel and Iran erupted last Friday with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group. Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel's air defences, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded. Israel's Home Front Command asserted that one of the Iranian ballistic missiles fired on Thursday had been rigged with fragmenting cluster munitions. A cluster warhead carries dozens of submunitions that can explode on impact, showering small bomblets around a large area. At least 80 patients and medical workers were wounded in the strike on Soroka Medical Centre, though much of the hospital building had been evacuated in recent days. Vulnerable patients had been transferred underground. Iranian officials insisted they had not sought to strike the hospital and claimed the attack hit a facility belonging to the Israeli military's elite technological unit, called C4i. Israeli airstrikes reached into the city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early Friday, Iranian media reported. The Israeli military had warned the public to flee the area around Rasht's Industrial City, southwest of the city's downtown. But with Iran's internet shut off to the outside world, it's unclear just how many people could see the message. Iran's supreme leader has rejected US calls for surrender and warned that any US military involvement would cause "irreparable damage to them." The International Atomic Energy Agency has said that due to restrictions imposed by Iran on inspectors, the UN nuclear watchdog has lost "continuity of knowledge" about Iran's heavy water production — meaning it could not absolutely verify Tehran's production and stockpile. US President Donald Trump says he will decide 'within two weeks' whether the US military will get directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, leaving a space open for the two sides to de-escalate. Trump has been weighing up whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but US "bunker-buster" bombs. His statement was read out by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Earlier in the day, Israel's defence minister threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after Iranian missiles crashed into a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, wounding at least 240 people. Israel's military "has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist," Defence Minister Israel Katz said. As rescuers wheeled patients out of the smouldering hospital, Israeli warplanes launched their latest attack on Iran's nuclear program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he trusted that Trump would "do what's best for America." Speaking from the rubble and shattered glass around the Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba, he added: "I can tell you that they're already helping a lot." A new diplomatic initiative appeared to be underway as Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi prepared to travel to Geneva for a Friday meeting with counterparts from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union's top diplomat. Britain's foreign secretary said he met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House to discuss the potential for a deal that could cool the conflict. "A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution," Britain's David Lammy said in a social media post after Thursday's meeting. The open conflict between Israel and Iran erupted last Friday with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group. Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel's air defences, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded. Israel's Home Front Command asserted that one of the Iranian ballistic missiles fired on Thursday had been rigged with fragmenting cluster munitions. A cluster warhead carries dozens of submunitions that can explode on impact, showering small bomblets around a large area. At least 80 patients and medical workers were wounded in the strike on Soroka Medical Centre, though much of the hospital building had been evacuated in recent days. Vulnerable patients had been transferred underground. Iranian officials insisted they had not sought to strike the hospital and claimed the attack hit a facility belonging to the Israeli military's elite technological unit, called C4i. Israeli airstrikes reached into the city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early Friday, Iranian media reported. The Israeli military had warned the public to flee the area around Rasht's Industrial City, southwest of the city's downtown. But with Iran's internet shut off to the outside world, it's unclear just how many people could see the message. Iran's supreme leader has rejected US calls for surrender and warned that any US military involvement would cause "irreparable damage to them." The International Atomic Energy Agency has said that due to restrictions imposed by Iran on inspectors, the UN nuclear watchdog has lost "continuity of knowledge" about Iran's heavy water production — meaning it could not absolutely verify Tehran's production and stockpile. US President Donald Trump says he will decide 'within two weeks' whether the US military will get directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, leaving a space open for the two sides to de-escalate. Trump has been weighing up whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but US "bunker-buster" bombs. His statement was read out by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Earlier in the day, Israel's defence minister threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after Iranian missiles crashed into a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, wounding at least 240 people. Israel's military "has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist," Defence Minister Israel Katz said. As rescuers wheeled patients out of the smouldering hospital, Israeli warplanes launched their latest attack on Iran's nuclear program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he trusted that Trump would "do what's best for America." Speaking from the rubble and shattered glass around the Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba, he added: "I can tell you that they're already helping a lot." A new diplomatic initiative appeared to be underway as Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi prepared to travel to Geneva for a Friday meeting with counterparts from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union's top diplomat. Britain's foreign secretary said he met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House to discuss the potential for a deal that could cool the conflict. "A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution," Britain's David Lammy said in a social media post after Thursday's meeting. The open conflict between Israel and Iran erupted last Friday with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group. Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel's air defences, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded. Israel's Home Front Command asserted that one of the Iranian ballistic missiles fired on Thursday had been rigged with fragmenting cluster munitions. A cluster warhead carries dozens of submunitions that can explode on impact, showering small bomblets around a large area. At least 80 patients and medical workers were wounded in the strike on Soroka Medical Centre, though much of the hospital building had been evacuated in recent days. Vulnerable patients had been transferred underground. Iranian officials insisted they had not sought to strike the hospital and claimed the attack hit a facility belonging to the Israeli military's elite technological unit, called C4i. Israeli airstrikes reached into the city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early Friday, Iranian media reported. The Israeli military had warned the public to flee the area around Rasht's Industrial City, southwest of the city's downtown. But with Iran's internet shut off to the outside world, it's unclear just how many people could see the message. Iran's supreme leader has rejected US calls for surrender and warned that any US military involvement would cause "irreparable damage to them." The International Atomic Energy Agency has said that due to restrictions imposed by Iran on inspectors, the UN nuclear watchdog has lost "continuity of knowledge" about Iran's heavy water production — meaning it could not absolutely verify Tehran's production and stockpile. US President Donald Trump says he will decide 'within two weeks' whether the US military will get directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, leaving a space open for the two sides to de-escalate. Trump has been weighing up whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but US "bunker-buster" bombs. His statement was read out by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Earlier in the day, Israel's defence minister threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after Iranian missiles crashed into a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, wounding at least 240 people. Israel's military "has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist," Defence Minister Israel Katz said. As rescuers wheeled patients out of the smouldering hospital, Israeli warplanes launched their latest attack on Iran's nuclear program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he trusted that Trump would "do what's best for America." Speaking from the rubble and shattered glass around the Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba, he added: "I can tell you that they're already helping a lot." A new diplomatic initiative appeared to be underway as Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi prepared to travel to Geneva for a Friday meeting with counterparts from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union's top diplomat. Britain's foreign secretary said he met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House to discuss the potential for a deal that could cool the conflict. "A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution," Britain's David Lammy said in a social media post after Thursday's meeting. The open conflict between Israel and Iran erupted last Friday with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group. Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel's air defences, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded. Israel's Home Front Command asserted that one of the Iranian ballistic missiles fired on Thursday had been rigged with fragmenting cluster munitions. A cluster warhead carries dozens of submunitions that can explode on impact, showering small bomblets around a large area. At least 80 patients and medical workers were wounded in the strike on Soroka Medical Centre, though much of the hospital building had been evacuated in recent days. Vulnerable patients had been transferred underground. Iranian officials insisted they had not sought to strike the hospital and claimed the attack hit a facility belonging to the Israeli military's elite technological unit, called C4i. Israeli airstrikes reached into the city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early Friday, Iranian media reported. The Israeli military had warned the public to flee the area around Rasht's Industrial City, southwest of the city's downtown. But with Iran's internet shut off to the outside world, it's unclear just how many people could see the message. Iran's supreme leader has rejected US calls for surrender and warned that any US military involvement would cause "irreparable damage to them." The International Atomic Energy Agency has said that due to restrictions imposed by Iran on inspectors, the UN nuclear watchdog has lost "continuity of knowledge" about Iran's heavy water production — meaning it could not absolutely verify Tehran's production and stockpile.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israeli journalist details Iran missile attacks from bomb shelter
(NewsNation) — Israel and Iran have been launching missile attacks at each other for over a week, resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths. Rolene Marks, an independent journalist based in Modi'in, Israel, spoke to NewsNation from her bomb shelter Thursday. She detailed what life has been like since the start of the Israel-Iran conflict last Friday, stating that she, 'like everybody in the country,' is 'exhausted' and 'emotionally drained.' Living halfway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, she said she is only 20 minutes away from the bustling city of Tel Aviv. 'When there are impacts or booms in cities like Tel Aviv, we hear it, we feel it here, coupled with the sirens and interceptions we are having. It is a very, very scary situation,' Marks said. Trump to make Iran decision 'within 2 weeks:' White House The Israeli journalist expressed gratitude to the Israeli Defense Forces Home Front Command for their warnings ahead of anticipated missile attacks that allow Israelis to seek shelter. 'I'm really grateful to the IDF Home Front Command, and all of our first responders for making sure we know exactly what to do when we hear those alerts, where to go, how long to stay in, and of course working night and day with rescue and recovery efforts,' she said. While Marks said Israel is well-prepared for enemy attacks, this particular conflict is 'frightening' and 'unlike anything we've had before; Hamas or Hezbollah, or even the Houthis firing a rocket here, a rocket there or a barrage of rockets and those interceptions.' 'This is very, very different with real impact,' she said. Florida charters evacuation flights for Americans fleeing Israel She described the sounds during an attack. First, the air raid sirens blare ahead of attacks. Marks said, 'If there are impacts close to where we are, it's a bang and the buildings shake, and the windows rattle. It's a very, very scary scenario.' President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is undecided as to whether the United States will strike Iran as the Islamic Republic's attacks on Israel escalate. 'I may do it; I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do. I can tell you this, that Iran's got a lot of trouble,' Trump said. Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said, 'Americans should know that any military involvement by the U.S. will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage to them.' In Iran, at least 639 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed and over 1,300 wounded, a Washington-based Iranian human rights group said. In a counterattack, Iran sent over 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, resulting in the deaths of 24 people in Israel. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Donald Trump to decide in two weeks whether US will strike Iran: White House
US President Donald Trump said Thursday he will decide within two weeks whether to authorise a direct US military strike on Iran, as the conflict between Tehran and Israel intensifies, according to The Associated Press (AP). His statement, read by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, pointed to a 'substantial chance' for renewed diplomacy over Iran's nuclear program. Quoting Trump, Leavitt announced: 'Based on the fact that there is a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future… I will make my decision whether or not to go, within the next two weeks.' Trump is reportedly considering targeting Iran's fortified Fordo uranium enrichment site — a facility buried deep underground and considered accessible only to US 'bunker-buster' bombs. These bombs are designed to penetrate up to 200 feet of earth or concrete before detonating. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Wednesday, Trump declined to confirm whether he had decided to join Israel's campaign targeting Iran's nuclear enrichment program. 'I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I'm going to do.' He added that he has 'ideas as to what to do' and that he prefers to make the 'final decision one second before it's due.' The ongoing conflict began with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military installations. According to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group, at least 639 people — including 263 civilians — have been killed in Iran, with more than 1,300 injured. Meanwhile, Israeli officials estimate that Iran has launched roughly 450 missiles and 1,000 drones. Most have been intercepted, but at least 24 Israelis have died and hundreds more have been injured. Tensions escalated sharply after Iranian missiles struck a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, injuring at least 240 people, as per AP. Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz directly threatened Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying, 'In order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist.' Israeli fighter jets, too, carried out renewed strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking from the rubble outside Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, said he trusted Trump to 'do what's best for America,' adding, 'they're already helping a lot.' Meanwhile, Soroka Medical Center became one of several hospitals that had already activated emergency protocols amid the escalating threat. At the time of the missile strike, the hospital was treating around 700 patients. At least 80 patients and medical workers were wounded, though most injuries were minor due to pre-emptive evacuations to underground wards. Israel's Home Front Command said one Iranian ballistic missile appeared to be loaded with cluster munitions — a type of weapon that disperses small bomblets over a wide area. Iranian officials denied targeting the hospital, claiming instead they struck a nearby military tech unit. Israel confirmed its air force targeted Iran's Arak heavy water reactor, a facility once central to Iran's ability to produce plutonium — a material usable in nuclear weapons. Iranian state TV said the site had been evacuated and posed 'no radiation danger.' The Arak reactor had been partially redesigned under the 2015 nuclear deal, but work stalled after the US withdrew from the agreement in 2018. Israeli forces said their strike aimed to prevent the facility from being restored to weapons-grade capability. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has acknowledged it no longer has full oversight of Iran's heavy water production due to recent restrictions. (With inputs from AP)
France 24
5 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Trump to decide 'in two weeks' whether US will directly attack Iran
President Donald Trump said Thursday he will decide within two weeks whether the US military will get directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran given the 'substantial chance' for renewed negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program, as the two sides attacked one another for a seventh day. Trump has been weighing whether to attack Iran by striking its well-defended Fordo uranium enrichment facility, which is buried under a mountain and widely considered to be out of reach of all but America's 'bunker-buster' bombs. His statement was read out by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Earlier in the day, Israel's defense minister threatened Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after Iranian missiles crashed into a major hospital in southern Israel and hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, wounding at least 240 people. Israel's military 'has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist," Defense Minister Israel Katz said. As rescuers wheeled patients out of the smoldering hospital, Israeli warplanes launched their latest attack on Iran's nuclear program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he trusted that Trump would 'do what's best for America.' Speaking from the rubble and shattered glass around the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, he added: 'I can tell you that they're already helping a lot." A new diplomatic initiative seemed to be underway as Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi prepared to travel Friday to Geneva for meetings with the European Union's top diplomat and counterparts from the United Kingdom, France and Germany. 01:35 The open conflict between Israel and Iran erupted last Friday with a surprise wave of Israeli airstrikes targeting nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group. Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel, according to Israeli army estimates. Most have been shot down by Israel's multitiered air defenses, but at least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded. Israel's Home Front Command asserted that one of the Iranian ballistic missiles fired Thursday morning had been rigged with fragmenting cluster munitions. Rather than a conventional warhead, a cluster munition warhead carries dozens of submunitions that can explode on impact, showering small bomblets around a large area and posing major safety risks on the ground. The Israeli military did not say where that missile had been fired. At least 80 patients and medical workers were wounded in the strike on Soroka Medical Center. The vast majority were lightly wounded, as much of the hospital building had been evacuated in recent days. Iranian officials insisted they had not sought to strike the hospital and claimed the attack hit a facility belonging to the Israeli military's elite technological unit, called C4i. The website for the Gav-Yam Negev advanced technologies park, some 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the hospital, said C4i had a branch campus in the area. 12:05 The Israeli army did not respond to a request for comment. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, acknowledged that there was no specific intelligence that Iran had planned to target the hospital. Many hospitals in Israel, including Soroka, had activated emergency plans in the past week. They converted parking garages to wards and transferred vulnerable patients underground. Israel also has a fortified, subterranean blood bank that kicked into action after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack ignited the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Doctors at Soroka said the Iranian missile struck almost immediately after air raid sirens went off, causing an explosion that could be heard from a safe room. The strike inflicted the greatest damage on an old surgery building and affected key infrastructure, including gas, water and air-conditioning systems, the medical center said. The hospital, which provides services to around 1 million residents, had been caring for 700 patients at the time. After the strike, the hospital closed to all patients except for life-threatening cases. Iran has long maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. But it is the only non-nuclear-weapon state to enrich uranium up to 60%, a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. 04:52 Israel is widely believed to be the only country with a nuclear weapons program in the Middle East but has never acknowledged the existence of its arsenal. The Israeli air campaign has targeted Iran's enrichment site at Natanz, centrifuge workshops around Tehran, a nuclear site in Isfahan and what the army assesses to be most of Iran's ballistic missile launchers. The destruction of those launchers has contributed to the steady decline in Iranian attacks since the start of the conflict. Israeli airstrikes reached into the city of Rasht on the Caspian Sea early Friday, Iranian media reported. The Israeli military had warned the public to flee the area around Rasht's Industrial City, southwest of the city's downtown. But with Iran's internet shut off to the outside world, it's unclear just how many people could see the message. On Thursday, anti-aircraft artillery was audible across Tehran, and witnesses in the central city of Isfahan reported seeing anti-aircraft fire after nightfall. Trump's announcement of a decision in the next two weeks opened up diplomatic options, with the apparent hope Iran would make concessions after suffering major military losses. But at least publicly, Iran has struck a hard line. Iran's supreme leader on Wednesday rejected US calls for surrender and warned that any US military involvement would cause 'irreparable damage to them.' Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf on Thursday criticised Trump for using military pressure to gain an advantage in nuclear negotiations. The latest indirect talks between Iran and the US, set for last Sunday, were cancelled. 'The delusional American president knows that he cannot impose peace on us by imposing war and threatening us,' he said. 01:46 Israel's military said its fighter jets targeted the Arak heavy water reactor, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Tehran, to prevent it from being used to produce plutonium. Iranian state TV said there was 'no radiation danger whatsoever' around the Arak site, which it said had been evacuated ahead of the strike. Heavy water helps cool nuclear reactors, but it produces plutonium as a byproduct that potentially can be used in nuclear weapons. That would provide Iran another path to the bomb beyond enriched uranium, should it choose to pursue the weapon. Iran had agreed under its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers to redesign the facility to alleviate proliferation concerns. That work was never completed. The reactor became a point of contention after Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018. Ali Akbar Salehi, a high-ranking nuclear official in Iran, said in 2019 that Tehran bought extra parts to replace a portion of the reactor that it had poured concrete into under the deal. Israel said strikes were carried out "in order to prevent the reactor from being restored and used for nuclear weapons development.' The International Atomic Energy Agency has said that due to restrictions imposed by Iran on inspectors, the UN nuclear watchdog has lost 'continuity of knowledge' about Iran's heavy water production — meaning it could not absolutely verify Tehran's production and stockpile.
