Mohamed Garba
Israel’s Defense Minister on Thursday issued a grave warning to Iran, threatening the life of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and blaming him directly for orchestrating attacks on Israel through regional proxy forces.
The statement, reported by the media marks one of the most explicit threats against Iran’s top leader in recent years and signals a sharp escalation in hostilities between the two nations. This follows an Iranian missile strike that reportedly hit Beersheba and damaged the Soroka Medical Center.
According to the Israeli Defense Minister, Khamenei “has always aimed at destroying Israel through his agents,” and now, “the matter of stopping this man, eliminating him, is part of the campaign.”
“This man, who is willing to attack us, must not stay alive,” he declared. “We now understand his role because before, he was just speaking. Now he is acting.”
In the past week, Israel has launched targeted strikes on Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure, prompting a wave of missile and drone retaliations from Tehran. Israeli officials claim these operations are critical to national security and a necessary response to what they see as Iran’s deepening aggression.
Iran, meanwhile, has warned both Israel and the United States of “serious irreparable consequences” if further attacks continue. Supreme Leader Khamenei has vowed resistance, while Iranian state media reports the Israeli strikes have killed over 240 people, including 70 women and children. Iran’s retaliatory attacks have claimed at least 24 Israeli lives so far.
Amid the volatile standoff, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a message to the Iranian people earlier this week, expressing hope that current military efforts would ultimately lead to their “freedom.”
Former U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, writing on social media, “We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now… Our patience is wearing thin.”
The war of words — now turning into a war of weapons — has pushed both nations to the brink of a broader conflict, with international observers warning of catastrophic consequences if diplomacy fails.
The threat to eliminate a sitting head of state, particularly one as powerful as Khamenei, is a dramatic and dangerous shift in Israel’s military doctrine, and one that could mark a turning point in Middle East tensions.
