Israeli Defense Minister Declares Iran’s Khamenei Must No Longer Exist Amid Intensified Missile Strikes

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "can no longer be allowed to exist," following an Iranian missile strike on Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, Israel, which caused extensive damage and injured many civilians. Katz compared Khamenei to a modern Hitler, emphasizing that Israel must prevent the destruction of the state and that the military has been instructed to consider Khamenei a legitimate target to achieve its war goals. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed that no one is immune and warned Iran would pay a heavy price for the hospital attack. Despite reports of an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, U.S. President Donald Trump vetoed the operation but threatened Iran with demands for "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER" and warned against missile attacks on civilians and U.S. soldiers. The conflict escalated with Israel striking Iran's Arak heavy water reactor amid ongoing missile and drone attacks exchanged between the two nations, resulting in hundreds of casualties on both sides. The situation remains tense with potential U.S. involvement under discussion as the war continues to grow more intense.