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Strike Near Hospital
Iran accused the United States of committing a “cowardly war crime” by striking near Shahid Baghaei Specialised Hospital in Ahvaz, and Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said 211 patients “undergoing chemotherapy” were evacuated.
“Iran has accused the United States of committing a “cowardly war crime” by striking near a children’s cancer hospital and compared its actions to Israel’s targeting of healthcare facilities in Gaza”
Baghaei said the blast was “intense” and “so close” that staff at the treatment centre thought the hospital had been hit, and he described the attack as “This barbaric attack, reminiscent of Israel’s atrocities against healthcare facilities, caused severe suffering and anxiety upon the hospitalised children, and forced the emergency evacuation.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed the condemnation, accusing Washington of “war crimes” and denouncing US attacks on civilian infrastructure as “undoubtedly a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of international law”.
The Times of India reported that Iranian state media said the strikes “forced the evacuation of 211 patients, including children undergoing chemotherapy,” and it added that “No casualties have been reported.”
Evacuation Details and Claims
Al Jazeera reported that Dr Majid Bou’azar, manager of the hospital, said the 211 patients “were forced to relocate” because of the strikes, while another staff member told the outlet that “Some people had children in their arms, some had IVs in their hands, and some were in wheelchairs.”
The Times of India quoted an Al Jazeera staff member describing the evacuation scene: “Some people had children in their arms, some had IVs in their hands and some were in wheelchairs. Everyone went outside,” and it said Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported the evacuation was carried out “to protect the lives of patients.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the incident on X as a “barbaric war crime,” saying the attack “caused severe suffering and anxiety” and forced the emergency evacuation of 211 patients undergoing chemotherapy.
WANA reported that Shahid Baghaei Specialized Hospital resumed medical services less than six hours later and reopened to patients on Thursday morning, with Hatam Boostani saying the hospital was evacuated after explosions occurred in the surrounding area during the attacks on the evening of July 15.
Threats, Accountability, and Impact
Al Jazeera said the US did not comment on the hospital strike but launched another wave of attacks on Iran on Thursday, while President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iranian power plants and bridges next week if Tehran does not return to talks.
“Iran condemns US strike near children's cancer hospital as 'barbaric attack' Foreign Ministry official says strike near Shahid Baqaei Hospital in Ahvaz was 'war crime', forced evacuation of 211 pediatric cancer patients Mohammad Sio 16 July 2026•Update: 16 July 2026 ISTANBUL Iran on Thursday condemned a US strike near a children's cancer hospital in the southwestern city of Ahvaz as a "barbaric attack," saying it forced the emergency evacuation of 211 pediatric cancer patients”
The Express Tribune reported that Iranian army spokesperson Brig Gen Mohammad Akraminia warned that President Donald Trump would face “surprises” if Washington continued attacking Iranian territory and violating a memorandum of understanding, adding, “The United States should expect surprises from the army.”
Al Jazeera also said Iran warned it will respond in kind by targeting civilian infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf countries, and it quoted Baghaei condemning a “double standard” where countries in the Global South are expected to adhere to international law while the Global North “openly threaten to commit war crimes.”
WION reported that the reported incident came as the United States carried out a second round of military strikes against Iran within 24 hours, and it cited US Central Command saying “At 3 p.m. ET, US forces launched operations for a second wave of strikes today against Iran” under President Donald Trump’s orders.
