Netanyahu Hints at Possible Strike on Iran’s Supreme Leader as Conflict Intensifies

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could become a potential target in Israel’s ongoing conflict with Iran, which entered its fourth day on Monday.

In an interview with ABC News, Netanyahu defended Israel’s escalating military operations, insisting that the strikes were aimed at neutralizing Iran’s regional aggression and ensuring long-term peace.

“It is not going to escalate the conflict but will end it,” Netanyahu said. “We have a half-conflict that is spread by this regime that has terrorised the region. What Israel is doing is preventing this aggression. We can only do so by standing up against the forces of evil.”

The Israeli leader also confirmed that Israel had taken full control of the skies as its missiles struck Tehran on Monday. The Israeli military issued its first evacuation warning to civilians in northeast Tehran, urging them to vacate the area ahead of expected strikes on what it described as “military infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, Iran has continued retaliatory attacks, launching missiles that killed at least eight people and injured dozens more in Israel on Monday, according to Netanyahu’s office. Israel has responded with targeted airstrikes, reportedly hitting missile sites and command centers of Iran’s Quds Force, the elite Revolutionary Guard unit responsible for orchestrating operations through proxy forces in the region.

Casualty figures continue to rise on both sides. Iran’s Health Ministry reports at least 224 fatalities, while Israel has confirmed 24 deaths since hostilities began on Friday.

The intensifying conflict has drawn global concern, with fears of a broader regional war. Despite this, Netanyahu maintained that Israel’s actions are necessary for self-defense and regional stability.

“This isn’t about revenge. It’s about preventing further bloodshed and ending a cycle of terror,” he said.