Defense Minister Israel Katz told reporters the strike on Soroka Medical Center, which injured 40 people, proved that Khamenei “personally orders fire on hospitals” and must be eliminated. Black smoke rose over the 1,000-bed facility after a dawn salvo that also hit high-rise blocks near Tel Aviv.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, visiting the city, said “no one is immune” but added: “In war you choose words carefully and act precisely.”
A senior U.S. official told AFP this week that President Donald Trump had blocked an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei.
Netanyahu has neither confirmed nor denied the report, saying only that killing him would “end the conflict”.
Israel says its week-old air offensive is aimed at halting Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and has struck hundreds of targets, including the Arak heavy-water reactor, enrichment facilities at Natanz and senior commanders.
Tehran calls the campaign a declaration of war and has fired hundreds of missiles and drones in retaliation.
Washington, Paris, Beijing and Moscow have urged de-escalation; French President Emmanuel Macron warned that forced regime change would trigger “chaos”.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons, enriching uranium to 60 percent—below the 90 percent weapons threshold.
Israel, widely believed to possess about 90 nuclear warheads, maintains official ambiguity over its arsenal.
Khamenei has ruled Iran since 1989 and rarely leaves the country. Asked on Monday if regime change was Israel’s goal, Netanyahu replied it could be a “result” of military pressure as Iranians “see their rulers’ weakness”.
(jh)
Source: AFP, Reuters, The Guardian