Iran says children's cancer hospital evacuated after US missile strike nearby

US missiles struck near a children's cancer hospital in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran, on Thursday, according to Iranian state media, forcing the temporary evacuation of patients.

Iran's Mehr news agency reported that the strikes hit the vicinity of Shahid Baghaei Hospital, which provides chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients, including children. Following the attack, medical staff evacuated patients from the facility as a precaution, the report said.

Iranian news agency Fars also reported that several missiles landed near Shahid Baghaei Hospital, triggering panic among patients and their families. According to the agency, children undergoing cancer treatment were being relocated by hospital staff as explosions were heard nearby.

The reports did not specify whether there were any casualties or confirm whether the hospital itself sustained any damage.

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US continues strikes on Iran

The United States launched a new wave of strikes against Iran on Wednesday to curb its ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, as President Donald Trump warned he could widen attacks unless the Islamic Republic returned to talks.

US Central Command said the strikes began at 1900 GMT and targeted Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting the vital waterway.

The US military also said one of its aircraft fired on and disabled an empty oil tanker that was trying to break the naval blockade of Iran's ports.

Central Command said the Curacao-flagged M/T Belma was stopped after the aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack. "The ship is no longer transiting to Iran," it said on X.

Iranian state media reported explosions in several cities, including Bandar Abbas, Rask and Chabahar. Earlier reports also cited blasts around southern sites, including Qeshm and Bandar Imam Khomeini. At the same time, state media later said fresh US strikes hit Bushehr, home to Iran's only civilian nuclear plant.

With inputs from agencies