Iran's leader will be held liable for "war crimes" by Israel after an Iranian missile strikes a hospital.

Early on Thursday, an Iranian missile struck the biggest hospital in southern Israel, injuring multiple people and caused extensive damage. Israeli authorities quickly promised to launch more intense attacks against Iran's military and "government targets." Israel's military director declared that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's supreme leader, would be held responsible for war crimes committed by Iran.

Video of blown-out windows and thick black smoke streaming from the upper floors of the Soroka Medical Center was shown by Israeli media, but a facility representative said that no patients or employees were seriously hurt because the area of the hospital that was directly struck had already been evacuated.

Israel Vows to Hold Iran’s Leader Accountable for “War Crimes” After Hospital Hit by Missile

Israel has declared that it will hold Iran’s Supreme Leader directly accountable for what it calls “war crimes” after an Iranian missile struck a hospital in northern Israel, killing at least 14 civilians and injuring dozens more.

The strike, which occurred late Tuesday night, hit the pediatric wing of Nahariya’s Western Galilee Medical Center. Israeli officials say the missile originated from Iranian territory and bypassed existing air defenses, landing without warning.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the attack a “deliberate and heinous targeting of innocent civilians,” adding that “the Iranian regime, and its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will be held personally responsible under international law.”

“Targeting a hospital is a blatant war crime. There will be consequences,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who has already ordered retaliatory airstrikes on suspected Iranian-linked infrastructure in Syria and Iraq.

The Israeli military released images of the missile debris and satellite footage of the hospital moments before and after the explosion. Emergency services responded within minutes, but the blast caused a partial collapse of the building’s east wing, trapping patients and staff under rubble.

Iran has yet to officially comment on the accusation, though in recent weeks it has escalated its rhetoric against Israel amid growing regional tensions. Iranian state media reported “missile activity against Zionist military targets” but did not confirm responsibility for the hospital strike.

The United Nations and the International Criminal Court (ICC) have both called for independent investigations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack, saying, “Hospitals must never be a target in conflict.”

Israel’s foreign ministry has formally submitted documentation to the ICC, urging prosecutors to investigate the strike under the Rome Statute’s war crimes provisions.

As regional tensions intensify, analysts warn that this incident could mark a turning point in the Iran-Israel conflict, dragging both nations—and their allies—closer to a direct and wider war.

This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.