Israeli Leaders Threaten to Eliminate Khamenei After Iranian Missile Strikes Hospital

Latest Developments

Direct Impact in Beer Sheva, Cluster Munitions Used: An Iranian ballistic missile slammed into Soroka Medical Center in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva, part of a salvo of some 20 projectiles launched by the Islamic Republic at civilian population centers, injuring 271 people. Missiles also impacted the central Israeli cities of Ramat Gan and Holon. The IDF confirmed later the same day that at least one of the missiles was carrying cluster munitions, which split apart around seven kilometers above the ground and spread 20 smaller bombs at a radius of roughly eight kilometers.
Katz, Netanyahu Threaten Khamenei in Response: Visiting a direct impact site in Holon, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz referred to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as “the modern Hitler” who “cannot continue to exist.” Katz stated, “This is a man who has stood at the head of a powerful nation for decades and has great ideological influence. He uses it and openly says he supports the destruction of Israel. And today we see proof that he is personally giving the order to fire on hospitals and residential buildings.” When pressed for comments on the potential for the IDF to eliminate Khamenei, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he had given “instructions that no one is immune,” adding that he preferred “to let actions speak for themselves.”
Israelis Return Home as War Continues: The Israeli Homefront Command and Transportation Ministry launched Operation Safe Return on June 16 to return as many as 150,000 Israelis marooned abroad due to the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Iran. The first flights landed in Israel on June 17, with prioritization given to humanitarian cases and medical emergencies. On June 19, the Transportation Ministry established a hotline through which Israeli citizens can request to return to Israel.

FDD Expert Response

“As the war progresses, Iran’s strategic intent has come into sharper focus. The pattern of missile attacks strongly suggests a deliberate effort to inflict maximum damage on Israeli civilian infrastructure rather than engage in strictly military-to-military confrontation. Despite the damage Iran’s missile attacks have caused, many lives have been spared due to Israel’s layered missile defense system. Not only has Israel’s defense system saved lives, but it has also preserved the continuity of national function during war.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“On a practical level, Israelis stuck outside their country can’t live out of suitcases perpetually as wandering Jews. But on a spiritual level, Israelis rushing back home as Iran rains rockets down on the Holy Land is the perfect embodiment of the motto ‘Ein Li Eretz Aheret’ (I have no other land). This connection to the land is what Israel’s enemies, who view Israelis as foreign interlopers without roots in the land, don’t understand about Israeli resilience.” — David May, Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst