Israel moves to ‘intensify strikes’ after Iranian missile damages hospital

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🗞️ Driving the news: Israel has announced it will intensify its strikes on "strategic targets" in Iran following Iranian missile attacks that injured dozens and damaged a hospital in Be'er Sheva, southern Israel
• The missile strike, which hit the Soroka Medical Center, marks the first such attack on a hospital since the onset of hostilities between the two nations last week
• In response, Israel's leadership has condemned the Iranian actions, describing them as war crimes, while U.S. President Trump has hinted at further military escalation

🔭 The context: The conflict between Israel and Iran escalated significantly after Israel carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, killing several key Iranian military figures
• Iran retaliated with missile strikes, targeting Israeli military infrastructure and civilian areas
• President Trump's rhetoric, which includes the possibility of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, has raised the stakes, pushing the situation towards a broader confrontation

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The intensifying Israel-Iran conflict threatens not only regional stability but also the broader geopolitical landscape, particularly with the potential for further U.S. military involvement
The conflict could exacerbate tensions in the Middle East, already fragile due to existing conflicts
Additionally, an escalation in hostilities could jeopardize international efforts to curb nuclear proliferation in the region

⏭️ What's next: Israel's planned escalation of airstrikes against Iranian targets will likely provoke further retaliation from Tehran
• The international community, particularly the U.S. and the European Union, may face pressure to intervene diplomatically to prevent the conflict from spiraling into a wider war
• With President Trump leaving open the possibility of U.S. military action, the next few days could see a critical shift in the dynamics of the conflict 

💬 One quote: "The cowardly Iranian dictator sits in the depths of the fortified bunker and fires aimed shots at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel." — Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz

📈 One stat: 65 people were injured across Israel in the latest wave of missile strikes launched by Iran

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