Israel-Iran War Day 7: Trump Mulls US Involvement; Putin, Xi Call For Ceasefire | Top Updates

Last Updated:June 19, 2025, 21:15 IST

As the war between Iran and Israel entered its seventh day on Thursday, both diplomatic and military pressures are mounting as the conflict intensifies

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to members of the media during his visit to the Soroka Hospital in the southern city of Beersheba. (AFP photo)

As the war between Iran and Israel entered its seventh day on Thursday, there was no let-up in hostilities, with missiles continuing to fly and tensions escalating further. Both diplomatic and military pressures are mounting as the conflict intensifies.

The direct confrontation began after Israel launched an unprecedented wave of airstrikes on Iran last week, prompting a swift response from Tehran in the form of missile and drone attacks.

Since the fighting began, a Washington-based Iranian human rights group has reported that at least 639 people have been killed in Iran, including 263 civilians, with more than 1,300 injured. In retaliation, Iran has launched over 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 people in Israel and injuring hundreds more.

Hospital Struck in Missile Barrage

Earlier today, Iran launched a salvo of “dozens" of missiles at southern Israel, with strikes reported in two towns near Tel Aviv. A direct hit on Soroka Hospital in Beersheba left several wards ablaze, injuring around 40 people, according to hospital director Shlomi Codish.

Iran later claimed it was targeting a nearby military intelligence base, not the healthcare facility. The International Committee of the Red Cross condemned the strike and reminded all parties that hospitals must be protected under international law.

Israel Threatens Khamenei

In the aftermath, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Tehran would pay a “heavy price" for the hospital hit. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a strong warning saying Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “shouldn’t continue to exist".

“A dictator like Khamenei, who heads a country like Iran and has made the destruction of Israel his mission, cannot continue to exist," Katz stated.

Putin-Xi Call For Ceasefire

In a phone call on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping jointly condemned Israel’s strikes and stressed a ceasefire, particularly from the Israeli side.

Xi called for an urgent halt to hostilities and insisted that civilian protection must come first. Both leaders agreed to share intelligence information on the Iran-Israel situation.

Trump Mulls US Military Involvement

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he was considering whether to join Israel’s strikes. “I may do it, I may not do it," he said, adding that Iran is “in trouble" and open to negotiation.

Conversely, Iran’s Guardian Council threatened a “harsh response" should the US intervene. Russia warned that American military action would be “extremely dangerous".

(With inputs from agencies)

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