| Published June 19, 2025
Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, said Iranâs so-called âSupreme Leader,â Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is todayâs version of âHitlerâ and âshould no longer continue to existâ after Iran hit a hospital with a missile Thursday.
An Iranian ballistic missileâreportedly a Sejilâstruck Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, southern Israel, along with residential buildings near Tel Aviv. At least 240 people were wounded, including dozens of patients and medical staff.
â ïž Israelâs Warning: Khamenei Held Personally Responsible
Israelâs Defense Minister Israel Katz, speaking at the aftermath site, directly blamed Iranâs Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing him as a âmodern Hitlerâ and stating emphatically that âwithout question this man should not continue to existâ.
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He accused Khamenei of personally ordering strikes on civilian hospitals, and said the IDF has been instructed to neutralize him to protect Israel.
đŻ Israeli Military Response
In direct response, the IDF launched airstrikes targeting Iranâs nuclear and military infrastructure, including the Arak heavy-water reactor and Fordow enrichment site.
đ§ Implications
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Escalation of Personal Threats
Israelâs explicit targeting of Khamenei marks a dramatic intensification, moving from collective Iranian deterrents to singling out Iranâs top leader. -
Doctrinal Backing: Begin Doctrine Invoked
This follows Israelâs historical doctrine of preemptive actions against existential threatsâa “Begin Doctrine” approachâwhere killing leaders becomes a state imperative. -
Regional & Global Fallout
Such a move risks provoking heavy retaliation from Iran or its proxies (Hezbollah, Shia militias) and may draw direct U.S. involvement, as President Trump considers joining Israel within weeks . -
Legal and Diplomatic Flashpoints
International debate over the killing of a head of stateâespecially after a civilian hospital strikeâcould trigger condemnation and strain allied relations if western participation is suspected. -
Potential Deterrence Effect
Naming and targeting Khamenei sends a strong message aimed at chilling further Iranian aggressionâand tests whether rhetoric can forestall further escalation.
 Overall Takeaway:
The direct Israeli threat against Iranâs Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, following the missile strike on Soroka Hospital marks a turning point in the IsraelâIran conflict. This escalation moves beyond strategic deterrence to personal retribution, signaling that Israel now views Iranâs leadership itself as a legitimate military target. It dramatically raises the risk of regional war, tests the limits of international norms, and redefines the cost of targeting civilians in modern conflict.
