Israeli defence minister threatens Iran’s Khamenei after missile strike

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a severe warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on June 19, declaring, “a dictator like Khamenei cannot be allowed to exist.” 

Speaking at the scene of an Iranian missile strike in Holon that injured dozens of civilians, Katz accused Khamenei of being “a modern-day Hitler, diverting his nation's resources toward the goal of destroying Israel,” Caliber.Az reports via Israel’s media. 

Earlier in the day, Katz condemned Khamenei’s attacks on civilian infrastructure. 

“The cowardly Iranian dictator sits in the depths of his fortified bunker, firing targeted missiles at hospitals and residential buildings in Israel,” he said. “These are war crimes of the highest order — Khamenei will answer for his crimes.”

The defence minister further announced that he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to escalate operations against strategic targets in Iran and regime locations in Tehran. 

“The Prime Minister and I have instructed the IDF to intensify attacks on strategic targets in Iran and on regime targets in Tehran to eliminate the threats to the State of Israel and destabilize the Ayatollah's regime,” Katz said.

Earlier, when asked whether Israel plans to eliminate Khamenei, Netanyahu stated “we're doing what we need to do. I'm not going to get into the details, but we've targeted their top nuclear scientists. It's basically Hitler's nuclear team.”

By Sabina Mammadli