Israel Katz says Iran’s supreme chief ‘can now not be allowed to exist’
Israel’s defence minister mentioned on Thursday that Iran’s supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “can now not be allowed to exist” after Soroka hospital in southern Israel was hit throughout an Iranian missile assault, Agence France-Presse (AFP) studies.
Israel Katz informed journalists in Holon close to Tel Aviv:
Khamenei overtly declares that he needs Israel destroyed – he personally offers the order to fireplace on hospitals. He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a purpose,
Such a person can now not be allowed to exist.
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Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned on Thursday that the change or fall of the Iranian regime was not a purpose however could possibly be a outcome.
“The matter of adjusting the regime or the autumn of this regime is at the start a matter for the Iranian individuals. There isn’t any substitute for this. And that’s why I didn’t current it as a purpose. It could possibly be a outcome, but it surely’s not a said or formal purpose that we have now,” Netanyahu informed Israeli public broadcaster Kan, Reuters studies.
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The day to this point
Israel’s defence minister mentioned on Thursday that Iran’s supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “can now not be allowed to exist” after Soroka hospital in southern Israel was hit throughout an Iranian missile assault, Agence France-Presse (AFP) studies. Israel Katz informed journalists in Holon close to Tel Aviv: “Khamenei overtly declares that he needs Israel destroyed – he personally offers the order to fireplace on hospitals. He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a purpose, such a person can now not be allowed to exist.”
Talking at Soroka hospital in Beersheba, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was requested about Donald Trump’s intentions and whether or not Israel anticipated the president to hitch the bombing marketing campaign towards Iran. The president mentioned on the hospital: “That’s a call for the president to make, however I can let you know that they’re already serving to so much, as a result of they’re taking part within the safety of the skies over Israel and its cities.”
A missile struck the bottom of a skyscraper on Jabotinsky avenue in Ramat Gan, near central Tel Aviv and about 200 metres from town’s diamond trade. Native individuals mentioned a takeaway pizza enterprise took the total power of the strike, however some older condo blocks throughout the highway had been additionally wrecked by the power of the blast, which had smashed home windows throughout the district.
The Related Press (AP) studies that not less than 240 individuals had been wounded by the Iranian missile strikes on Thursday morning. The outlet mentioned that 4 people has been significantly wounded, in line with Israel’s Well being Ministry.
The Israeli navy mentioned on Thursday that Iran used a missile with a number of warheads in its assault, posing a brand new problem to its defenses, the Related Press (AP) studies. As an alternative of getting to trace one warhead, missiles with a number of warheads can pose a harder problem for air protection techniques, like Israel’s Iron Dome.
US particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian international minister Abbas Araqchi have spoken by cellphone a number of instances since Israel started its strikes on Iran final week, in a bid to discover a diplomatic finish to the disaster, three diplomats informed Reuters. In line with the diplomats, who requested to not be recognized because of the sensitivity of the matter, Araqchi mentioned Tehran wouldn’t return to negotiations until Israel stopped the assaults, which started on 13 June.
German chancellor Friedrich Merz had a cellphone name with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu during which Merz referred to as for moderation in Israel’s marketing campaign towards Iran, a German authorities supply informed Reuters on Thursday. Merz voiced Germany’s assist in precept for Israeli navy assaults on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure through the name on Wednesday night however careworn the significance of looking for diplomatic options to the battle, the supply mentioned.
Iran might shut the strait of Hormuz as a approach of hitting again towards its enemies, a senior lawmaker mentioned on Thursday, although a second member of parliament mentioned this might solely occur if Tehran’s very important pursuits had been endangered. Iran has previously threatened to shut the strait of Hormuz to site visitors in retaliation for western strain, and transport sources mentioned on Wednesday that business ships had been avoiding Iran’s waters across the strait, Reuters reported.
The US particular envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, on Thursday warned Lebanese group Hezbollah towards getting concerned within the conflict between its fundamental backer Iran and Israel, Agence France-Presse (AFP) studies. Barrack, who can be the US ambassador to Turkey, is on his first go to to Beirut, the place he met high Lebanese officers together with parliament speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah.
Gaza’s civil defence company mentioned Israeli fireplace killed not less than 25 individuals on Thursday, together with 15 who had gathered close to an assist distribution website. Civil defence official Mohammad al-Mughayyir informed Agence France-Presse (AFP) that 15 individuals had been killed and 60 wounded whereas ready for assist in central Gaza’s Netzarim hall, the place hundreds of individuals have gathered each day within the hope of receiving rations.
Iran’s international minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed on Thursday he would meet his British, French and German counterparts in addition to the European Union’s high diplomat on Friday in Geneva, Iranian state media reported, in line with Reuters. He mentioned the assembly had come on the request of the three European states.
Iran on Thursday accused the UN’s nuclear watchdog of appearing as a “companion” in what it described as Israel’s “conflict of aggression”. The Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company (IAEA) accused Iran in a report previous to the beginning of the Iran-Israel conflict of non-compliance with its obligations in its nuclear programme.
Iraq’s high Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani warned towards concentrating on Iran’s management and mentioned that the Iran-Israel conflict might plunge the entire area into chaos, Agence France-Presse (AFP) studies. Sistani mentioned in a press release on Thursday that any concentrating on of Iran’s “supreme spiritual and political management” would have “dire penalties on the area”.
Ottawa is planning business choices for Canadians in Israel, the West Financial institution and Iran to go away the area by way of neighbouring international locations, international minister Anita Anand mentioned on Thursday. “We’re creating additional choices with our allies,” she mentioned in a publish on X, however gave no particulars.
Lithuania will evacuate members of the family of its diplomats in Israel in addition to non-essential workers after an Iranian missile struck Tel Aviv’s Ramat Gan neighbourhood, the Lithuanian international ministry mentioned on Thursday.
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In the meantime, greater than 2,000 Israelis are anticipated in the present day to return to the nation from Cyprus, a regional hub for travellers attempting to get into or out of the area because the disaster erupted.
An estimated 21 flights are scheduled for Haifa, Tel Aviv and the Purple Sea port metropolis of Aqaba in Jordan, in line with sources on the island’s fundamental worldwide Larnaca as a part of the repatriation scheme.
Within the six days because the disaster erupted, greater than 100 personal vessels have additionally transported individuals to and from Israel from Larnaca marina.
The Cyprus information company reported that 460 individuals had travelled out of Israel to the island by way of the ocean route with roughly the identical quantity boarding yachts and different craft to go again to Israel.
Returnees had been quoted as saying that regardless of the explosive scenario, they had been determined to be again residence with their households. Cyprus is the closest EU member state to the Center East.
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Defence minister Israel Katz says Iran’s supreme chief “personally offers the order to fireplace on hospitals” after Soroka hospital in southern Israel was hit throughout an Iranian missile assault.
Israeli minister says Khamenei ‘can now not be allowed to exist’ after hospital strike – videoShareMourners attend a funeral for these killed in Israeli strikes on Iran, in Ahvaz, Iran, 19 June 2025. {Photograph}: Alireza Mohammadi/ISNA/ReutersShare
US particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian international minister Abbas Araqchi have spoken by cellphone a number of instances since Israel started its strikes on Iran final week, in a bid to discover a diplomatic finish to the disaster, three diplomats informed Reuters.
In line with the diplomats, who requested to not be recognized because of the sensitivity of the matter, Araqchi mentioned Tehran wouldn’t return to negotiations until Israel stopped the assaults, which started on 13 June.
They mentioned the talks included a quick dialogue of a US proposal given to Iran on the finish of Could that goals to create a regional consortium that will enrich uranium outdoors Iran, a proposal Tehran has to this point rejected.
US and Iranian officers didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for touch upon the matter.
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Up to date at 11.32 EDT
Ottawa is planning business choices for Canadians in Israel, the West Financial institution and Iran to go away the area by way of neighbouring international locations, international minister Anita Anand mentioned on Thursday.
“We’re creating additional choices with our allies,” she mentioned in a publish on X, however gave no particulars.
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German chancellor Friedrich Merz had a cellphone name with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu during which Merz referred to as for moderation in Israel’s marketing campaign towards Iran, a German authorities supply informed Reuters on Thursday.
Merz voiced Germany’s assist in precept for Israeli navy assaults on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure through the name on Wednesday night however careworn the significance of looking for diplomatic options to the battle, the supply mentioned.
Germany plans to host nuclear talks with its European companions and the Iranian international minister at its everlasting illustration in Geneva on Friday, a supply informed Reuters on Wednesday, with the purpose of getting assurances from Iran that its nuclear programme is used solely for civilian functions.
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The chief of the opposition within the UK, Kemi Badenoch, has mentioned she would “in precept” assist the US utilizing the UK-controlled Diego Garcia base within the Chagos Islands in a possible strike on Iran.
Requested if Keir Starmer ought to enable the US to make use of the bottom if obligatory, she mentioned: “So I haven’t seen the safety briefings.
“However in precept, I feel that that’s completely one thing that we must always do. I don’t suppose the US or Israel could be dashing into one thing until there was a critical risk to world safety.
“However what’s astonishing is that we now should get permission from Mauritius, who’re an ally of China and ally of Iran.
“That may be a scenario we must always not have been in. And I’m additionally fearful about us not being prepared for the extra harmful world that we’re dwelling in.”
She additionally mentioned the UK ought to be eager about pulling its residents out of Israel.
ShareJulian Borger
On the Soroka hospital in Beersheba, Netanyahu referred to as for the Iranian individuals to stand up and overthrow their authorities, saying Israel may create the situations for regime change with its bombing marketing campaign whereas insisting that was not the target.
He mentioned:
Folks ask me – are we concentrating on the downfall of the regime.
That could be a outcome, but it surely’s as much as the Iranian individuals to rise for his or her freedom. Freedom isn’t low-cost. It’s by no means free. Freedom requires these subjugated individuals to stand up, and it’s as much as them.
However we might create situations that may assist them do it. Our purpose is twofold. Nuclear [and] ballistic missiles. We’re going to take away them. We’re within the strategy of finishing and eradicating this risk.
Talking in Hebrew, the prime minister added:
I need to let you know that 2,500 years in the past, Cyrus the Nice, the King of Persia, liberated the Jews. And in the present day, a Jewish state is creating the means to liberate the Persian individuals.
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Netanyahu says US is already serving to Israel ‘so much’ with Iran battle
Julian Borger
Talking at Soroka hospital in Beersheba, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was requested about Donald Trump’s intentions and whether or not Israel anticipated the president to hitch the bombing marketing campaign towards Iran.
The president mentioned on the hospital:
That’s a call for the president to make, however I can let you know that they’re already serving to so much, as a result of they’re taking part within the safety of the skies over Israel and its cities.
President Trump will do what’s greatest for America. I belief his judgment. He’s an incredible buddy, an incredible world chief, an incredible buddy of Israel and the Jewish individuals.
And we are going to do what we have now to do, and we’re doing it. We’re dedicated to destroying the nuclear risk, the specter of a nuclear annihilation towards Israel. We’re in a position to do it.
However I’ve to say that the partnership with the USA, the partnership with President Trump, with whom I communicate to virtually every single day, is unbelievable.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the Soroka hospital complicated in Beersheba, Israel, on 19 June 2025. {Photograph}: Marc Israel Sellem/Reuters
Netanyahu mentioned he had reward for Trump’s “resolve, his dedication, and his readability when he says Iran can not have a nuclear weapon – and for that to happen, Iran can not enrich uranium.”
He added:
It’s so simple as that. He gave them the prospect to do it by negotiations.
They strung them alongside. You don’t string alongside Donald Trump. He’s dedicated to creating certain that Iran is not going to have a nuclear weapon, and so they gained’t.
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Up to date at 09.51 EDT
The Israeli navy mentioned on Thursday that Iran used a missile with a number of warheads in its assault, posing a brand new problem to its defenses, the Related Press (AP) studies.
As an alternative of getting to trace one warhead, missiles with a number of warheads can pose a harder problem for air protection techniques, like Israel’s Iron Dome.
There was no quick unbiased evaluation that could possibly be made.
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Iranian police introduced the arrest on Thursday of 24 individuals accused of spying for Israel and of looking for to tarnish the nation’s picture, in line with a press release carried by Tasnim information company, Agence France-Presse (AFP) studies.
Kiumars Azizi, police commander for west Tehran, mentioned:
Twenty-four people who had been spying for the Zionist enemy offline and on-line, and who had been… attempting to disturb public opinion, and to tarnish and destroy the picture of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, had been arrested.
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Listed below are some extra images coming to us by the wires of the occasions unfolding within the Center East:
A person walks within the broken headquarters of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, Iranian state tv, in Tehran, Iran on 19 June 2025. {Photograph}: Vahid Salemi/APA Palestinian driver refills gas containers at a gasoline station whereas town is experiencing a extreme gas scarcity following the Israel-Iran battle, within the West Financial institution metropolis of Ramallah on Thursday. {Photograph}: Nasser Nasser/APA firefighter works at an affect website after a missile strike on town’s normal hospital in Beersheba, Israel on Thursday. {Photograph}: Amir Cohen/ReutersEmergency personnel work at an affect website after a missile strike from Iran on Israel at Soroka hospital in Beersheba, Israel on Thursday. {Photograph}: Amir Cohen/ReutersShare
Up to date at 09.24 EDT
A key Iranian physique warned the US on Thursday that any intervention in assist of its ally Israel could be met with a “harsh response”, Agence France-Presse (AFP) studies.
The Guardian Council mentioned in a press release carried by state tv:
The legal American authorities and its silly president should know for certain that in the event that they make a mistake and take motion towards Islamic Iran, they’ll face a harsh response from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
ShareJulian Borger
Benjamin Netanyahu has simply left Soroka hospital in Beer Sheva. He toured the location and gave a press release to the press.
In accordance Ynet information, he mentioned: “Your entire individuals of Israel are paying a value. We’re going by a blitz, and we’re going by it in an astonishing approach.”
“There are private prices, individuals have been harm, households have misplaced their family members. Every of us bears a private value, and my household has not been exempt – that is the second time that my son Avner has cancelled a marriage as a result of missile threats. It’s a private value for his fiancee as effectively, and I need to say that my expensive spouse is a hero, and she or he bears a private value.”
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the Soroka hospital complicated, after it was hit by a missile fired from Iran, in Beersheba, Israel, on 19 June 2025. {Photograph}: Marc Israel Sellem/ReutersShare
Up to date at 09.52 EDT
