Tehran: In a dramatic and dangerous escalation of the ongoing Middle East conflict, Israeli forces launched a precision missile strike on Iran’s Arak nuclear facility early Thursday morning. The strike came shortly after Israeli intelligence reportedly confirmed that the site was being used for potential plutonium production. Prior to the strike, Israel had issued evacuation warnings to civilians in the vicinity of the reactor, a move that Iranian authorities acknowledged by confirming that the site had been cleared of personnel before the attack.
Iranian state media quickly reported that no casualties had occurred at the Arak facility and that there was no radiation leak or environmental hazard. The facility, a heavy-water reactor southwest of Tehran, has long been a focal point of international scrutiny due to its capacity to produce weapons-grade plutonium.
The Israeli government justified the attack as a preventive measure aimed at halting what it described as “Iran’s reckless pursuit of nuclear escalation.” Israeli officials declared that the Arak reactor posed a clear and immediate threat to regional security, especially in light of Iran’s recent refusal to allow full access to international inspectors.
In a fierce response just hours later, Iran launched approximately 30 ballistic missiles targeting multiple locations across Israel. Among the hardest-hit was the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, which sustained significant structural damage. Missile fragments also struck residential zones in Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. At least 40 people have been reported injured, with casualty numbers expected to rise as emergency crews continue operations.
Iranian military sources claimed the hospital was not the intended target, asserting that the missiles were aimed at a nearby Israeli intelligence and defense command post. Nonetheless, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack as a “cowardly assault on civilians” and vowed a “decisive and punishing response.”
The international community reacted with alarm as the conflict reached a new level of intensity. European nations urged immediate de-escalation, while the United States and the United Nations called for emergency consultations. Several countries, including Japan, China, and Indonesia, began evacuating their citizens from the region amid fears of broader war.
This latest exchange marks the most direct and destructive confrontation between Iran and Israel to date, raising fears of a full-scale regional conflict. Both sides appear entrenched in their positions, with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warning that any foreign military intervention—particularly by the United States—would provoke “unimaginable consequences.”
As global diplomatic efforts scramble to mediate, the region teeters on the brink of a war with international ramifications. The coming days are expected to be critical in determining whether this volatile situation spirals further or retreats through international pressure and negotiation.