Iran reported that smoke is billowing in the Lavizan area of the capital Tehran as a result of an Israeli attack.
Last Sunday, the ‘Iran International’ website reported from two knowledgeable sources in Iran that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ‘was moved to an underground bunker in Lavizan in northeast Tehran, hours after Israel began its attacks on Tehran on Friday morning.’
According to the report, all members of Khamenei’s family, including his son Mojtaba, are with him.
Israel’s defence minister warned that Iran’s supreme leader “can no longer be allowed to exist” after a hospital was hit in an Iranian missile strike on Thursday, spiking tensions in the week-old war.
As President Donald Trump dangled the prospect of US involvement, Soroka Hospital in the southern city of Beersheba was left in flames by a bombardment that Iran said targeted a military and intelligence base.
Meanwhile Russia, an Iranian ally, told the United States that joining the conflict would be an “extremely dangerous step”.
Israel, fearing Iran is on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon, launched air strikes against its arch-enemy last week, triggering deadly exchanges.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran would “pay a heavy price” for the hospital strike, while Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning for supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
“Khamenei openly declares that he wants Israel destroyed – he personally gives the order to fire on hospitals,” Katz told reporters.
“He considers the destruction of the state of Israel to be a goal. Such a man can no longer be allowed to exist.”
