5 hours ago
Last Updated:June 19, 2025, 16:16 IST
The statement came after Iran launched a large missile attack, striking Soroka Hospital in the southern city of Beersheba
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (Image: AFP file)
Israel’s Defence Minister on Thursday issued a strong warning saying Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “shouldn’t continue to exist" after an Iranian missile strike hit an Israeli hospital.
The statement came after Iran launched a large missile attack, striking Soroka Hospital in the southern city of Beersheba.
Speaking to reporters in Holon, near Tel Aviv, Defence Minister Israel Katz said, “Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed — he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals. He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal."
“A dictator like Khamenei, who heads a country like Iran and has made the destruction of Israel his mission, cannot continue to exist," Katz added.
The Israeli minister also stated that the forces has been instructed accordingly. “The IDF has been instructed and knows that in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist."
This direct threat towards Iran’s leader comes after US officials said last week that President Donald Trump had vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei. Trump later said there were no current plans to target him, “at least not for now."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also strongly condemned the hospital attack, warning that Iran would pay a heavy price. “This morning, Iran’s terrorist dictators fired missiles at Soroka Hospital… and at civilians in the centre of the country. We will make the tyrants in Tehran pay a heavy price," Netanyahu said in a post on X.
The hospital caught fire during the early morning barrage, which involved dozens of Iranian ballistic missiles. At least 40 people were injured. Additional strikes were reported in towns near Tel Aviv.
Iran, however, claimed it was targeting an Israeli military and intelligence base—not the health facility.
The latest escalation came on the seventh day of deadly exchanges between the two countries, raising fears of a wider conflict in the region. Meanwhile, Trump has kept the world guessing about whether Washington will enter the war on Israel’s side.
Khamenei has also rejected Trump’s demand for an “unconditional surrender", despite the US President claiming that “Iran’s got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate."
ALSO READ: US May Enter Iran-Israel Conflict ‘In Coming Days’ As Officials Ready Strike Plans: Report
(With inputs from agencies)
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...
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Israel
First Published:News world 'Khamenei Shouldn't Continue To Exist': Israeli Minister's Stark Warning Against Iran Leader
