Israel vows to strike anyone threatening it, IDF spokesman says

The Israeli military will target anyone who poses a threat to the country, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said when asked whether Israel could attack Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, CNN reports.

Speaking at a briefing on March 9, IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin responded to a question about Mojtaba Khamenei, who recently assumed the position of Iran’s supreme leader following the death of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in joint U.S.–Israeli strikes.

“We attack anyone who poses a threat to the State of Israel,” Defrin said when asked whether the younger Khamenei could be considered a target. “I will not touch on our future plans, I am just saying that anyone who poses a threat, anyone who threatens the citizens of Israel will be harmed.”

According to Defrin, Israeli forces had targeted Mojtaba Khamenei’s father from the beginning of the operation.

“The role of the head of the terrorist regime is to command the military armed forces of this regime,” Defrin said of the elder Khamenei, who was killed more than a week ago. “The blood of thousands of victims of terror, over the past decades, is on Ali Khamenei’s hands.”

Earlier on March 9, a CNN correspondent also asked Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar whether Mojtaba Khamenei could be a target for Israel.

“Well, you’ll have to wait and see,” Sa’ar replied.