Israel Iran war: Cluster bombs, hospital attack, US strike plans in focus

The Iran‑Israel war has entered its second week with mounting attacks, casualties and diplomatic pressure from around the world. On Thursday, June 19, Iran fired a missile that carried cluster munitions targeting a civilian area, according to the Israeli military and its embassy in Washington. This was the first reported use of such weapons since the fighting began. “Today, the Iranian Armed Forces fired a missile that contained cluster submunitions at a densely populated civilian area in Israel,” the Israeli embassy said in an email to Reuters, without disclosing the exact location.Israel began its air campaign last Friday, saying it wanted to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons—a claim Tehran denies, insisting its nuclear programme is peaceful. Since then, Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks.

Other latest developments: hospital hit, nuclear sites bombed, US weighs strike
Tensions deepened on June 19 when an Iranian missile hit Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, the largest hospital in southern Israel. The attack caused significant damage and injured at least 80 people, according to Israeli emergency services reports cited by Reuters and The Jerusalem Post.Iranian officials claimed the strike was aimed at a nearby military site, but Israel called it an attack on civilian infrastructure. The hospital had already begun emergency evacuation procedures, which likely prevented more serious casualties.

In response, Israel carried out fresh airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile facilities, including the Arak heavy-water reactor. The site, although inactive, was struck to prevent future restoration, according to Israeli officials. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, quoted by the International Atomic Energy Agency and Reuters, confirmed the damage but said there was no radiation leak. Iran has urged global nuclear authorities to intervene.
Israel’s campaign and rising death tollIsrael has targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities—hitting Natanz, Arak, Isfahan and Tehran—as well as missile launchers and command centres. Human Rights Activists News Agency reports at least 639 people killed and over 1,300 wounded in Iran, among them civilians and top military and nuclear personnel.

Officials say Israeli strikes may have been aimed at weakening not just Iran’s nuclear programme but also undermining Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s government.

US considers its next move

US President Donald Trump says he will decide within two weeks whether the US will enter the conflict, leaving the door open to military intervention. A Bloomberg report suggests that US officials are preparing for the possibility of limited strikes on Iran, should talks fail to reduce tensions.

“Based on the fact that there’s a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks,” Trump said in a statement.

Europe and global diplomatic efforts

European foreign ministers from Britain, France, Germany and the EU are set to meet Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva—seeking to forge a diplomatic path while the fighting continues. This meeting was confirmed by European officials and reported by the Associated Press. The United States is not expected to participate. Meanwhile, Reuters and South China Morning Post report that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have offered to mediate between the two sides, calling for restraint.