Ahvaz pediatric cancer hospital area hit in Iran‑US missile strike

The United States Central Command announced a second wave of precision strikes against Iranian military targets linked to threats against vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. One missile strike hit the vicinity of the Shahid Baqaei (also reported as Boghayi) Hospital in Ahvaz, a facility dedicated to treating children with cancer. Iranian officials said the attack forced the emergency evacuation of 211 pediatric patients, with only the most critically ill remaining inside.

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported explosions in several southern cities—including Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas and Chabahar—and the temporary evacuation of the Ahvaz hospital after nearby missiles hit. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson called the strike a "barbaric attack" and a "cowardly war crime" against children. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Tehran would continue its military response.

An industrial facility on Qeshm Island also sustained damage, though no injuries were reported. The U.S. said the operations aimed to degrade Iranian capabilities used to threaten maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran condemned the action as an escalation that endangers civilians.