Netanyahu government’s warning to Iran’s next supreme leader
Israel warned on Wednesday that anyone Iran chooses to be its next supreme leader will be a “target for elimination.”“Every leader appointed by the Iranian terrorist regime to pursue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, threaten the United States, the free world, and the countries of the region, and oppress the Iranian people — will be an unequivocal target for elimination,” Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz wrote on X.
“He added: “It does not matter what his name is or where he is hiding. The Prime Minister and I have instructed the IDF to prepare and work by all means to carry out the mission as an integral part of the objectives of Operation Lion’s Roar. We will continue to work with full force, together with our American partners, to crush the regime’s capabilities and create the conditions for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it.”
The warning comes amid a major escalation in the region. On Saturday, a large-scale operation targeting Iran’s Khamenei-led political establishment was launched, and Israel joined it under the code name “Operation Lion’s Roar.” The operation followed the killing of 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which exacerbated the conflict.Follow live updates of the war between the US, Israel and IranIsraeli media reported that Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader, was chosen to succeed his father.
Senior Israeli officials told Ynet News that Iran’s Assembly of Experts is expected to formally announce Mojtaba Khamenei in the coming hours, although Iranian state media has not confirmed this development.Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly played a key role in running his late father’s office and maintains close ties with the top leadership of the IRGC and Quds Force. The Israeli media described him as more extremist than his father and participated in violent repression campaigns against demonstrators in Iran. In November 2019, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba, noting that he officially represents the Supreme Leader and has worked closely with the IRGC-QF and the Basij Resistance Forces to advance regional and domestic objectives.Meanwhile, the Israeli army said that a new wave of air strikes was underway against Hezbollah positions in Beirut. Civilians near two buildings associated with the group were instructed to stay at least 300 meters away. Previous strikes in Tehran targeted the command centers of the paramilitary Basij forces and Iranian internal security forces, in addition to Iranian army logistical sites, missile launchers and air defense systems.Israel had previously targeted a building linked to the Iranian Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for selecting the new supreme leader, indicating the escalating nature of the conflict.