Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called missile strikes on a large hospital and at the civilian population the work of Iran’s “terrorist tyrants.” An official for Soroka Hospital, one of Israel’s largest located in the southern part of the country,

Starmer also spoke with Netanyahu. Per Downing Street, the "Prime Minister was clear that Israel has a right to self-defense and set out the U.K.’s grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme. He reiterated the need for de-escalation and a diplomatic resolution, in the interests of stability in the region."

Israel began flying home citizens stranded abroad on Wednesday, launching a phased airlift operation after the country's surprise military strike on Iran left tens of thousands of Israelis stuck overseas.