Khamenei can no longer be allowed to exist, says Israeli defence minister

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark threat against Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, after Iranian missiles struck a major hospital in southern Israel, leaving more than 240 wounded and sparking a fierce wave of retaliatory airstrikes against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Speaking just hours after the Soroka Medical Centre in Beersheba was rocked by a missile hit, Katz pointed the finger at Iran’s highest authority. "The military has been instructed and knows that, in order to achieve all of its goals, this man absolutely should not continue to exist," Katz said, referring to Khamenei.

The missile strike caused chaos at Soroka, one of Israel’s largest hospitals, which was treating around 700 patients at the time. Doctors at Soroka said the missile hit moments after sirens went off, with the explosion shaking even reinforced safe rooms. The worst of the damage was concentrated in an older surgery wing, now scorched and partially collapsed, reports Reuters.

While rescue workers wheeled patients through smoke-filled corridors, Israeli fighter jets launched a new wave of strikes targeting sites linked to Iran’s nuclear programme. According to the Israeli military, Iran has fired 450 missiles and 1,000 drones since the conflict escalated, with most intercepted by Israel’s defence network.

In Washington, President Donald Trump said he would take up to two weeks to decide whether to join Israel’s campaign against Iran, leaving the door open to a diplomatic solution. The White House confirmed a flurry of diplomatic activity, including a planned meeting in Geneva between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and European leaders.

Iran’s supreme leader on Wednesday rejected US calls for surrender and warned that any American military involvement by the Americans would cause "irreparable damage to them."

With inputs from AP

Tune In