Israel’s defence minister stated they’d have killed Iran’s Supreme Chief Khamenei in the course of the 12-day battle if that they had the possibility, however he went underground whereas Israel focused prime Iranian officers.
In a significant revelation, Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz has stated that Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a high-priority goal in the course of the current 12-day battle however averted assassination by going underground and that they’d’ve taken him out if it was doable.
“If Khamenei had been in our sights, we’d have taken him out,” Katz informed Kan public tv on Thursday. He defined that the Iranian chief “went very deep underground and broke off contacts with commanders,” making it “not lifelike” to focus on him.
Energetic search in the course of the battle
In interviews on a number of Israeli channels, Katz reiterated that Israel actively looked for Khamenei all through the battle. “We searched lots,” he stated on Channel 13, including that Israel’s goal was not regime change, however to destabilise Iran’s management and exert strain in the course of the battle.
Airstrikes focused prime Iranian officers
The battle, which started on 13 June and ended with a US-brokered ceasefire on 25 June, concerned in depth Israeli airstrikes. These strikes killed a number of prime Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists. Katz famous that Israel maintained aerial superiority and enforced a coverage of “enforcement actions in opposition to Iran,” aimed toward halting the nation’s efforts to rebuild its nuclear and missile capabilities.
No US permission sought
When requested if Israel had sought US approval to focus on Khamenei, Katz responded, “We don’t want permission for this stuff.” He drew a comparability between Khamenei and Hezbollah’s chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed final 12 months. “I wouldn’t advocate that he keep tranquil,” Katz warned, including, “He ought to study from the late Nasrallah… I like to recommend that he do the identical factor.”
Trump’s menace and Operation Midnight Hammer
In the course of the battle, former US President Donald Trump additionally made threats in opposition to Khamenei. On 17 June, Trump posted on social media, “We all know precisely the place the so-called ‘Supreme Chief’ is hiding… We’re not going to take him out (kill!), at the very least not for now.” He later walked again the assertion, clarifying that regime change was not the target.
Nonetheless, Trump authorised Operation Midnight Hammer – a collection of precision airstrikes concentrating on three Iranian nuclear services. White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the strikes as a “whole obliteration” that considerably degraded Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. “It was a complete success… Not solely does our personal intelligence say that, however even the Iranian international minister and the United Nations agreed,” she stated.
Katz: ‘We gained’t pursue Khamenei now, however stay vigilant’
Leavitt confirmed that the US stays dedicated to diplomacy, with upcoming talks scheduled between US and Iranian officers. She famous that the US is working carefully with intermediaries like Qatar to advertise a transition to a “non-enrichment civil nuclear program” for Iran.
Following the ceasefire, Katz acknowledged that Israel will not pursue Khamenei’s life. “There’s a distinction, earlier than the ceasefire, after the ceasefire,” he stated. Nonetheless, he issued a warning that future provocations would set off a forceful response.
Though Katz acknowledged that Israel has not situated all of Iran’s enriched uranium, he claimed that the strikes have set again Iran’s nuclear ambitions “by lengthy years.” He concluded, “We gained’t let that occur.”