Tensions between Israel and Iran escalated dramatically on Thursday as Israel’s defense minister issued a direct threat to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following a missile barrage that injured hundreds and damaged a major hospital in southern Israel. In response, Israeli fighter jets targeted Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, a critical part of the country’s nuclear program, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.

According to the Israeli Health Ministry, at least 240 people were injured in the Iranian missile attack, including over 70 patients and staff at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. While most injuries were minor, four individuals were reported in serious condition. Smoke was seen rising from the hospital complex as emergency teams evacuated patients. The hospital sustained damage primarily to an old surgical wing that had recently been evacuated, and it is now accepting only life-threatening cases. No fatalities were reported at the hospital.

In a statement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz blamed Ayatollah Khamenei for the attack and declared that the Iranian leader “absolutely should not continue to exist,” suggesting that the Israeli military has been instructed to eliminate him if necessary. Meanwhile, U.S. officials revealed that President Donald Trump had recently vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, though Trump later said there were “no plans to kill him — at least not for now.”

Israel’s military confirmed it struck the Arak heavy water reactor, specifically targeting the core seal to prevent it from being used to produce plutonium. Israeli officials said the strike was intended to disable the reactor permanently and prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons through that route. The Arak facility, located about 250 kilometers southwest of Tehran, has long been a point of contention, particularly since Iran began enriching uranium to levels just below weapons-grade after the collapse of the 2015 nuclear deal.

Iranian state media confirmed the attack but said there was “no radiation danger whatsoever.” A reporter near the site said the facility had been evacuated and that there was no damage to surrounding civilian areas. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, though it continues to enrich uranium up to 60%, a step away from the 90% needed for weapons.

The conflict began last Friday with a surprise Israeli airstrike targeting Iranian military sites, nuclear facilities, and senior officials. Since then, a Washington-based Iranian human rights group reports at least 639 people have been killed in Iran, including 263 civilians, and more than 1,300 wounded. Iran’s retaliatory strikes have killed at least 24 people in Israel and injured hundreds more. In total, Iran has launched over 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, many of which were intercepted by Israel’s air defense systems. Nonetheless, Israeli officials have acknowledged gaps in the system’s effectiveness.

Hospitals across Israel have activated emergency protocols, including converting underground parking areas into makeshift wards. These measures were first tested after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and remain part of Israel’s readiness strategy amid the expanding conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the strike on Soroka Medical Center, vowing that “we will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran.” Israel has already hit nuclear sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and various centrifuge production facilities around Tehran in the past week. Several senior Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists have been reported killed in the ongoing Israeli campaign.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced he would travel to Geneva on Friday for diplomatic talks with European foreign ministers, including those from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, as well as the EU’s foreign policy chief. The announcement suggests a possible diplomatic opening amid the intensifying war.

Meanwhile, Trump has not ruled out U.S. involvement in the conflict, stating that he wants “something much bigger” than a ceasefire. Iran has warned of severe consequences should the United States deepen its role in the fighting but has not specified what actions it might take.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly urged Israel not to attack Iranian nuclear facilities. Inspectors last visited the Arak reactor on May 14. However, due to Iranian restrictions, the IAEA has said it lost “continuity of knowledge” about Iran’s heavy water production, leaving global watchdogs uncertain about Iran’s current nuclear capabilities.

The situation remains highly volatile, with the possibility of a wider regional war looming as military actions intensify and diplomacy hangs by a thread.