Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz held Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei directly accountable after an Iranian missile struck the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba on June 19, 2025. Katz condemned the hospital strike as a “cowardly” war crime and declared, “Khamenei will be held accountable for his crimes,” while ordering the IDF to escalate strikes on strategic Iranian targets, including Tehran’s government infrastructure .

The attack wounded dozens and caused extensive damage, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to denounce it as an assault on civilians and vow to “exact the full price” . Israel responded with intensified airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear and military installations, such as the Arak heavy-water reactor and Natanz enrichment site . As the tit-for-tat exchange intensifies, international appeals for restraint have grown louder. Yet, Israel’s leadership is adamant: Iran’s supreme authority must answer for targeting a critical civilian hospital. The stage is set for further escalation unless swift diplomatic intervention prevails.