Fires erupted in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva on Friday after an Iranian missile landed near a technology park housing a Microsoft office, sparking panic and a swift emergency response.
Israel’s national emergency service, Magen David Adom (MDA), confirmed its teams were actively searching nearby buildings for casualties. A video released by MDA and reported by CNN showed flames and thick smoke billowing from a street in the city.
At least 40 people were reported injured in the strike, according to MDA. The Soroka Medical Center—a major hospital with over 1,000 beds serving nearly one million residents—was previously damaged in a separate Iranian attack. Following Friday’s incident, the hospital issued a statement urging the public to stay away while officials assess injuries and infrastructure damage.
The Israel Police confirmed that munitions landed in open areas of the Southern District, causing property damage but no immediate reports of fatalities.
Beer Sheva, situated in the Negev desert, lies close to the Nevatim Airbase, a critical Israeli military installation. The missile attack is part of escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, which have been trading missile strikes since Israel launched a ballistic attack on Iran on June 12.
Israel’s military stated it intercepted the missile, but falling debris caused ground-level damage. In response to the growing threat, hospitals across Israel have activated emergency protocols, relocating patients underground and converting parking areas into temporary wards in anticipation of further strikes.
Meanwhile, both Israeli and Iranian citizens have begun registering for evacuation amid the ongoing hostilities.
