Israel attacks Iran's nuclear facilities, hospital bombed

The Israeli Air Force (IDF) bombed the Arak heavy water reactor, one of the main nuclear facilities of the Iranian program, on Thursday morning (19). The attack, which specifically targeted the component intended for the production of plutonium, occurred after an alert issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) asking civilians to evacuate the area. According to the Israeli military, the objective was to prevent the structure, still under construction, from being restored and used for the development of nuclear weapons.

The strike marked the seventh consecutive day of Israeli operations against strategic targets in Iran, which include nuclear facilities, military bases and missile production centers. In the early hours of Thursday, 40 Israeli fighter jets dropped about 100 bombs on dozens of military sites in Tehran and other Iranian cities. Footage of the strikes was later released by the IDF.

In addition to Arak, Israel struck nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan and Bushehr. In Natanz, according to the Israelis, the target was a facility that houses equipment and projects related to the development of nuclear weapons. In Isfahan and Shiraz, explosions were also recorded, hitting sites associated with the assembly of ballistic missiles, air defense, radar systems and ammunition storage. The city of Kermanshah was also affected.

The IDF claims to have destroyed two-thirds of Iran’s ballistic missile launchers. However, according to military estimates, Tehran still possesses more than 100 launchers, which are considered a strategic bottleneck for Iran’s strike capabilities. Iranian agencies also reported the arrest of 18 “enemy agents” in the city of Mashhad, accused of building drones used by Israel.

Iranian state television downplayed the damage to the Arak reactor, denying any radiation risk and saying the facility had been evacuated in time. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that the facility contained no radioactive material at the time of the attack.

Iran attacks hospital in retaliation

In retaliation, Iran has launched more than 400 missiles and around 1,000 drones against Israel since the start of the Israeli offensive last Friday (13). On Thursday morning (19), a ballistic missile hit the Soroka hospital in Beersheba, southern Israel. The 1,000-bed facility, which serves around 1 million people, suffered severe damage. Thanks to the prior transfer of patients to armored areas, only 76 injured were recorded, six in serious condition.

According to Iranian media, the missile targeted a military facility near the hospital, not the health facility itself. Still, the incident drew a strong reaction from the Israeli government. Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei "can no longer exist" after ordering attacks on civilians. Katz said the aim of the campaign was to "destabilize the ayatollahs" and "eliminate threats to the existence of the State of Israel."

Israel Katz told reporters in Holon, near Tel Aviv, BBC News reported: "Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed, he personally gives the order to shoot at hospitals. "He considers the destruction of the State of Israel to be an objective... Such a man cannot be allowed to exist any longer.

Earlier, Iranian state media said the main target of this morning's missile strike was military installations near the hospital.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that “tyrants will pay the full price” for attacks on Israel, signaling that he does not intend to stop the operation.

The death toll in Iran also continues to rise. Local authorities report at least 224 fatalities, most of them civilians. The Washington-based NGO Human Rights Activists estimates the total at more than 585 dead and 1,300 injured.

In Israel, Iranian attacks have resulted in 24 deaths and more than 500 injuries so far.

Expectation is for Trump's decision

Analysts point out that while Israeli forces operate with wide freedom in Iranian airspace, the destruction of underground targets depends on direct US involvement. President Donald Trump has approved plans to strike Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported, but is still waiting for signs that Tehran will give up its nuclear program before ordering any offensive. Trump said on Wednesday (18) that he expects an "unconditional surrender" from the Iranian regime and ruled out a mere ceasefire.

Sources contacted by Bloomberg and Axios say the US government is considering an operation in the coming days. One possibility is the use of the GBU-57 MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) bunker-busting bomb, capable of hitting underground targets such as the Fordo nuclear reactor, which is built at great depth and considered out of reach of Israeli aircraft. MOPs have never been used in combat, only in tests, and are currently integrated only into the arsenal of US B-2 stealth bombers.

Israel, for its part, is exploring alternative ways to hit Fordo, including ground operations. According to reports published by Axios, Israeli officials have told US officials that if they cannot destroy Fordo with bombs, “they will do it with humans.”

Meanwhile, Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, despite enriching uranium to levels of up to 60 percent, a technical step closer to that needed for atomic weapons.