By Olatunbosun Obafemi
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a direct threat against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday following a missile attack that damaged a major hospital and struck residential buildings near Tel Aviv.
“This man absolutely should not continue to exist,” Katz said, blaming Khamenei personally for the attack, which wounded at least 40 people. The Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba was hit, forcing evacuations, though no critical injuries were reported there.
Katz accused Khamenei of leading a regime committed to Israel’s destruction and said the Israeli military had been instructed accordingly.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, stating, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding… we are not going to take him out—at least not for now.”
Khamenei responded on X (formerly Twitter), saying U.S. involvement only revealed Israel’s “weakness,” and urged Iranians to stand firm.
Meanwhile, Israel launched fresh strikes on Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor and a site near Natanz, aiming to cripple Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Iranian media claimed there was no radiation risk and denied civilian casualties near the Arak site.
The conflict, now in its seventh day, has killed hundreds on both sides, with Iran firing over 400 missiles and drones, and Israel intensifying its targeting of Iranian military and nuclear sites.
