Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel eliminated Ayatollah Khamenei, who initiated the plan to destroy Israel, and that any future leader attempting the same will be eliminated. Katz also condemned 'Death to Trump' chants at Khamenei's funeral as a disgrace.
In a statement earlier today (Monday, 08:54 Jerusalem), Defense Minister Israel Katz explicitly claimed Israeli responsibility for the elimination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whose funeral is underway. Katz said Khamenei 'was eliminated by Israel because he initiated and led the plan to destroy Israel.' He added: 'The destroyer has been destroyed. Any Iranian leader who tries to advance plans to destroy Israel will also be eliminated.' Katz also condemned the 'Death to Trump' chants heard at the funeral, calling them a disgrace that reveals the true nature of the regime. This marks the first official Israeli acknowledgment of the operation.
The Zioneer’s initial report at 08:54 Jerusalem carried Katz's claim of responsibility. In subsequent updates within the same hour, the minister's full statement unfolded, including the slogan 'the destroyer has been destroyed' and the condemnation of anti-Trump chants, as reported in successive editions.
As The Zioneer has previously reported, the operation follows a joint US-Israeli campaign that removed immediate existential threats and severely damaged Iran's strategic capabilities. Katz's statement reinforces Israel's stated doctrine of preemptive self-defense against Iranian leadership.
Katz's statement remains the sole official Israeli acknowledgment. No independent confirmation from Iranian or other sources has been obtained, and the precise circumstances of the operation — including the nature of the joint US-Israeli action — have not been detailed.
7 developments
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- DevelopingReport: Israel killed Ali Larijani, Iran's top national security official
- StrongIranian Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami Vows Revenge for Khamenei
- DevelopingIran announces legal proceedings against Israel, US over Khamenei assassination
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