Iran's Arak nuclear reactor targeted as missiles strike southern Israel

Israel has bombed Iran's Arak heavy water reactor overnight, hitting the centre of the country's nuclear infrastructure. 

Israeli fighter jets targeted the structure of the reactor's core seal as well as multiple military factories in Natanz. 

The Israeli military claims it specifically targeted "the structure of the reactor's core seal, which is a key component in plutonium production".

The Arak facility, located around 190 kilometres southwest of Tehran, is part of Iran's broader nuclear programme and includes a heavy water production plant and the IR-40 reactor, originally designed with a 40MW thermal capacity.

Under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to redesign the site after it drew international scrutiny. 

In response, Iran launched a barrage of missiles across central and southern Israel, hitting four locations, including Soroka Hospital in Be-er Sheva - a major trauma centre in Negev (Naqab).

Iran said the target of the missile attack was Israel's army command and intelligence headquarters, which are located next to Soroka Hospital.

Iran vows to teach Israel 'a lesson'

The attack comes after Israel had targeted several Iranian hospitals in the first week of its military campaign, killing dozens of medical staff and civilians. Israeli strikes on Iran have left at least 639 people dead as the conflict enters its seventh day. 

In Gaza, Israel had targeted every hospital in its relentless bombardments, causing extensive destruction and forcing many hospitals and medical centres out of service. While those still operating suffer from chronic shortages in fuel and medical supplies.

The Palestinian ministry of health in the Gaza Strip warned on Saturday that fuel supplies in remaining functioning hospitals will last only three more days, as health facilities across the territory face growing threats of collapse under Israel's continued blockade and war.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, political commentator in Tel Aviv Ori Goldberg, said that Israel was trying to send a "message that the Iranians target hospitals".

"Of course, Israelis target hospitals as well. It’s important to mention that there really are very sensitive installations and headquarters very near to the hospital because Israel places its military headquarters in the midst of civilian neighbourhoods and towns," he added.

Following the attack, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Ghairbabadi said Iran does not want the war to widen but is ready to "teach aggressors a lesson" if necessary. Iran’s military decision-makers have "all necessary options on the table", he added.

During a televised address, the country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that Iran "will not surrender" and warned the United States that any intervention would bring "irreparable damage". 

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he was still weighing a potential military intervention. Speaking from the White House on Wednesday, Trump said he had not yet made a final decision on the next steps regarding Iran, but expressed his belief that "a deal with Iran is still possible".

In Europe, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and the UK are expected to meet their Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, in Geneva on Friday to discuss the ongoing escalation, according to Germany's DPA news agency.