Iran launched a wave of deadly ballistic missiles into Israel early Thursday, targeting major cities and leaving destruction in its wake. More than 30 missiles slammed into urban areas, including Tel Aviv suburbs and a hospital in Beersheba, marking a dangerous escalation in the conflict.
The missiles hit Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, the Diamond District in Ramat Gan, and residential buildings in Holon. At least 240 people were injured, including six in critical condition. The damage was immediate and severe. Streets were reduced to rubble. Smoke and fire filled the air.
Despite the direct strike on Soroka hospital, no one was killed. The facility had just cleared the damaged wing a day earlier. “Many lives were saved,” said Eli Bin, head of Magen David Adom, Israel’s national emergency medical service.
The Israeli Defense Force confirmed that at least one of the missiles carried cluster munitions — banned by most of the world for their ability to kill indiscriminately. The warhead exploded mid-air, breaking into about 20 smaller bombs that scattered over a wide area. The IDF said the blast zone stretched nearly 8 kilometers.
One of the smaller bomblets struck a home in Azor, a Tel Aviv suburb. It caused only minor damage, but military officials warned residents to stay away from impact zones, saying unexploded bombs could still go off.
These kinds of weapons are outlawed by 108 countries under the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Iran, Israel, and the United States are not among them.
The missile strike followed Israeli attacks on Iranian missile and nuclear sites last week. Israel responded to Thursday’s strike by hitting Iranian targets again, including the Arak nuclear site. The U.S. is now weighing its next move. The White House said President Donald Trump would decide “within two weeks” whether to strike Iran directly.
The situation is spiraling fast — and civilians are caught in the middle.
Watch videos from the Thursday morning attacks below:
Israeli rescue team saving a woman trapped in an apartment in Ramat Gan which was hit by an Iranian ballistic missile pic.twitter.com/ffrGeEpmBf
— Jotam Confino (@mrconfino) June 19, 2025
English language update from Magen David Adom emergency service in central Israel following Iranian missile strikes. pic.twitter.com/K2oDpwqBE6
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) June 19, 2025
Video someone was incidentally making from their balcony in Tel Aviv when a missile struck the area of Ramat Gan: pic.twitter.com/hVbEAwRNlI
— Murtaza Hussain (@MazMHussain) June 19, 2025
Footage posted to social media shows the moment of the ballistic missile impact at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba. pic.twitter.com/aicK9zLSnx
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 19, 2025
פטריית עשן והרס כבד: תיעוד מהפגיעה הישירה ברמת גן
(אורלי אלקלעי) pic.twitter.com/FWs2qhrfgg
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) June 19, 2025
