In a dramatic escalation of hostilities, Iran launched a hypersonic rocket barrage against Israel early Thursday, June 19. The missile strike directly hit Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, causing severe damage, and impacted financial and commercial zones around the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, according to Israeli officials.
🚨 Soroka Hospital Under Fire in Beersheba
A hypersonic missile struck Soroka Hospital, the largest medical facility in southern Israel, around 3:15 AM local time.
- Casualties: 1 person critically wounded, over 20 lightly injured.
- Damage: Extensive structural damage to emergency and ICU wings.
- Response: Emergency crews evacuated patients as hospital operations were suspended indefinitely.
This marks the first direct hospital strike in the current Iran-Israel confrontation.
💥 Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Rattled but Not Broken
At approximately 3:45 AM, explosions echoed across central Tel Aviv, with several missiles landing near:
- Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE)
- Defense Ministry HQ (The Kirya)
- Residential districts in Ramat Gan and Holon
Despite the attack, TASE opened and closed in positive territory — the TA‑35 Index rose 0.5%, signaling unexpected market resilience amid chaos.
🚀 Iran Deploys Hypersonic Missiles
Iran claims it used advanced hypersonic missiles capable of traveling at Mach 5+ and evading Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling defense systems.
- Total strike estimate: ~400 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones launched over several days
- Missiles today: ~20, including hypersonic-class models
- Defense failure: 3 hypersonic missiles breached Israeli airspace undetected
🌍 International Fallout and Global Concerns
The U.S. White House issued an urgent statement condemning the attack and considering military support to Israel.
Meanwhile, multiple countries including Germany, Japan, Australia, and India have evacuated citizens from Tel Aviv and southern Israel.
Reporter
