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Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed Thursday to intensify attacks on Iran to undermine the Iranian regime after the latest wave of missile strikes injured 65 Israelis.
Katz said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have directed the Israeli military to escalate strikes against strategic targets in Iran and governmental sites in Tehran.
"The Prime Minister and I have directed the Israeli army to escalate the intensity of strikes against strategic targets in Iran and governmental targets in Tehran to neutralize threats to the State of Israel and undermine the Ayatollah regime," Katz said on his official X account.
Netanyahu also vowed that Iran would "pay the price" for its missile attacks targeting central Israel early Thursday.
The Israeli leader's statement came after Iranian missiles struck multiple cities, including the capital Tel Aviv and hit a hospital along with others in southern Israel.
According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, approximately 20-30 Iranian missiles hit Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Holon, as well as Soroka Hospital in the southern city of Beersheba.
Israel's emergency service Magen David Adom reported that 65 people were injured in Iran's morning retaliation attack, with three seriously wounded.
The service said two of the injured were in moderate condition, while others were wounded by shrapnel, blast effects, or while seeking shelter.
The Israeli military estimated that Iran fired approximately 30 missiles in the morning retaliation attack. Direct hits were reported on buildings in central cities, including Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Holon, as well as in the southern city of Beersheba.
Israeli Defense Minister Katz accused Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, of committing war crimes by deliberately targeting hospitals and residential buildings.
"The cowardly Iranian dictator sits deep inside his fortified bunker and launches deliberate attacks at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel," Katz said in a statement.
"These are the gravest forms of war crimes–and Khamenei will be held accountable for his crimes," he added, according to the defense ministry statement.
Iran's state news agency IRNA claimed the missiles targeted the headquarters of the Israeli army and intelligence service near Soroka Hospital, stating that the blast wave caused injuries at the medical facility rather than a direct strike on the hospital itself.
The Iranian account contradicts Israeli officials, who described the attack as a deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure.
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The current escalation began with Israeli airstrikes on June 13 targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and military commanders across various cities.
Iran reported that the chief of general staff, the Revolutionary Guards general commander, several senior commanders, and nine nuclear scientists were killed in the attacks, with total civilian casualties reaching 224.
Iran's military retaliation with ballistic missiles has now killed 24 people in Israel and wounded more than 500, according to official reports from both sides.
Türkiye and numerous other countries have condemned Israel's actions in the escalating conflict between the two nations.
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