Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has issued a direct and unprecedented threat to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declaring that “eliminating” him is now one of Israel’s official war goals.
In his words: “A man like [Khamenei] has always aimed at destroying Israel through his agents.
“This man, who is willing to attack us, must not stay alive. This matter, the matter of stopping this man, eliminating him, is part of the campaign, and we now understand his role because before, he was talking about the destruction of Israel.”
Katz added that Khamenei “cannot continue to exist”, intensifying what observers are calling a dangerous shift in Israel’s strategy from targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure to open declarations of regime decapitation, Al jazeera reports.
The statement follows Iranian missile strikes that damaged four sites in Israel, including Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, one of the country’s largest hospitals. Iran said its “main target” was a nearby Israeli military and intelligence facility.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) noted that Iran is not complying with nuclear safeguard obligations but stated it has seen “no evidence” that Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry called IAEA Director Rafael Grossi’s remarks “too late” and accused the agency of “biased” reporting that gave Israel a “pretext” for attack.
Israel’s response included an airstrike on Iran’s non-operational Arak heavy water reactor. The IAEA confirmed there were “no radiological effects” from the strike.
As tensions surged, Bulgaria evacuated its embassy in Tehran and withdrew diplomatic staff, citing Israeli warnings to residents in nearby areas.
Buildings near Tel Aviv’s stock exchange were cordoned off over debris concerns, while a direct missile impact in Holon caused a building to collapse.
US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack warned Hezbollah against intervening: “I can say on behalf of President Trump … that would be a very, very, very bad decision.”
Meanwhile, Turkiye strengthened its border with Iran and kept its air patrols active, saying it remained on high alert. A Defence Ministry source confirmed that Turkish radar and missile defence systems were prepared for any developments.
Former US President Donald Trump also commented on the situation, posting on social media: “We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now … Our patience is wearing thin.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced plans to meet with his British, French, and German counterparts in Geneva, along with the EU’s top diplomat, at their request.
In the Gulf, the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a major US military installation, showed signs of aircraft dispersal in new satellite imagery.
A similar shift was earlier observed at the US 5th Fleet’s base in Bahrain, a common precaution to limit vulnerability in the event of a strike.
