Israeli Hospital, Tel Aviv Area Struck by Iranian Missiles: Officials

Israel's Magen David Adom rescue service said that at least 32 people were injured following Iran's latest missile strikes, which an Israeli military official said involved "dozens of ballistic missiles".

In a statement, an MDA spokesperson said that medics were "providing medical treatment and evacuating to hospitals two people in serious condition... as well as 30 people in mild condition with blast and shrapnel injuries".

It added that additional MDA teams were treating "several injured individuals at multiple scenes."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Iran would "pay a heavy price" after a missile hit a hospital in Israel's south.

"This morning, Iran's terrorist dictators fired missiles at Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva and at civilians in the centre of the country. We will make the tyrants in Tehran pay a heavy price," Netanyahu said in a post on X.

Near-total internet blackout

Iran was in a "near-total national internet blackout", London-based watchdog NetBlocks wrote on X.

Iran announced last week that it was placing temporary restrictions on the internet, with the communication ministry saying Wednesday that heavier limits were being imposed due to Israel's "abuse of the country's communication network for military purposes".

Iranian media later reported that Israel briefly hacked the state television broadcast, airing footage of women's protests and urging people to take to the streets.

Numerous sites and apps have remained at least partially inaccessible.

State television appealed to Iranians on Tuesday to delete WhatsApp from their phones, charging that the messaging app gathers users' location and personal data and "communicates them to the Zionist enemy".

A WhatsApp spokesperson expressed concern the "false reports will be an excuse for our services to be blocked".

Trump on strikes, talks

President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was considering whether to join Israel's strikes, and that Iran had reached out seeking negotiations on ending the conflict.

"I may do it, I may not do it," Trump told reporters. "I can tell you this, that Iran's got a lot of trouble, and they want to negotiate."

Trump said Iran had even suggested sending officials to the White House for talks, an assertion Iranian officials denied.

Asked if it was too late for negotiations, Trump said: "Nothing is too late."

The Wall Street Journal reported Trump has told aides he has approved attack plans but is holding off to see if Iran will give up its nuclear programme.

He is due to receive an intelligence briefing on Thursday, a U.S. holiday, the White House said, while top U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio will meet his UK counterpart for talks expected to focus on the conflict.

Khamenei warns US

Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech read on state television: "This nation will never surrender."

"America should know that any military intervention will undoubtedly result in irreparable damage," he said.

Trump had said on Tuesday that the United States knows where Khamenei is located but will not kill him "for now".

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday his country was committed to "diplomacy" and was acting in "self-defence" against Israel's assault.

Israel says hit security HQ

AFP journalists heard blasts across Tehran throughout the day on Wednesday, with smoke billowing over parts of the city.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in the afternoon that air force jets had "destroyed the internal security headquarters of the Iranian regime -- the main arm of repression of the Iranian dictator".

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Israel to end strikes on targets in Iran not linked to nuclear activities or ballistic missiles, his office said.

'Painful losses'

Foreign governments have scrambled to evacuate their citizens from both countries, with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announcing plans on Wednesday to get Americans out by air and sea.

Israel's attacks have hit nuclear and military facilities around Iran, as well as residential areas.

Residential areas in Israel have also been hit.

Netanyahu acknowledged "painful losses", but added: "The home front is solid, the people are strong."

The prime minister's office said Monday that at least 24 people have been killed in Israel and hundreds wounded since Iran's retaliatory strikes began Friday.

Iran said on Sunday that Israeli strikes had killed at least 224 people, including military commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. It has not updated the toll since.

Putin eyes 'solution'

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that a deal to end the war was possible.

He also claimed Israel's strikes on Iran had led to a "consolidation" of support in Iranian society around its leaders.

"This is a delicate issue, and of course we need to be very careful here, but in my opinion, a solution can be found," Putin told foreign journalists, including AFP.

He had previously proposed to act as a mediator, prompting both Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron to question his suitability given Russia's war in Ukraine.

Source: HDN