Khamenei says Israel calling on Americans for help ‘sign of weakness’
“The very fact that the Zionist regime’s American friends have entered the scene and are saying such things is a sign of that regime’s weakness and inability”, Iran’s supreme leader posted on X.
As we reported earlier, Israel’s defence minister said today that “eliminating” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a goal of its war on Iran.
“I would like to tell our dear nation that if the enemy senses that you fear them, they won’t let go of you. Continue the very behavior that you have had up to this day; continue this behavior with strength”, Khamenei continued.
Israel would not carry out attack without American support: Iranian official
Israel’s attack on Tehran occurred while Iran was holding talks at the request of the American president, “who claimed to be seeking peace”, says Ali Larijani, adviser to Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader.
“In the final stages of the negotiations, the United States was not seeking to resolve the issues, but rather was trying to impose specific demands on us,” Larijani said.
“[Israel] would not have carried out its aggression against us without an American decision, and we believe that Trump resorted to deception in this regard.”
The official added: “Despite the assassination of our military leaders by the Zionist entity, their replacements were appointed within less than 12 hours. Israel imagined that it would force Iran to retreat within a few days, but this did not happen.”
Iran’s FM defends strike that damaged Soroka hospital, vows to ‘pummel’ Israel
A view of the destruction at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, Israel, on Thursday
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has claimed a missile attack earlier today hit an Israeli military and intelligence centre located near Soroka hospital, causing only “superficial damage to a small section” of the health facility.
Araghchi also claimed that the facility was “largely evacuated” and has mainly been used “to treat Israeli soldiers” fighting in the Gaza war.
“Our powerful Armed Forces will continue to pummel the criminals who target our people until they cease and pay for their criminal aggression against our nation,” said Araghchi, urging Israeli civilians to avoid military sites.
Earlier, as we reported, Soroka hospital’s Director General Shlomi Kodesh said Iran’s missile attack hit an old surgical ward at the hospital, causing “widespread damage” there and throughout the complex and leaving some people with light injuries.
Photos of the aftermath of the attack show major wreckage in one part of the medical complex, with blown-out windows and debris scattered across nearby buildings.
With more than 1,000 beds, Soroka hospital is the largest in southern Israel and serves a region home to over one million residents. It says it treats at least 15,000 cancer patients each year.
