Israel’s Defense Minister vows to target any future Iranian Supreme Leader

International, Middle East, North America, Politics

Lagos, Nigeria (NPA) — March 8, 2026— Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has declared that any individual appointed as the next Supreme Leader of Iran will be targeted for elimination by Israel. His remarks follow an Israeli strike on an oil refinery and storage facility in Iran, which left parts of the city engulfed in fumes.

In a post on his verified X account on March 4, Katz stated: “Every leader appointed by the Iranian terror regime to continue and lead the plan to destroy Israel, to threaten the United States and the free world, and to suppress the Iranian people—will be an unequivocal target for elimination. It does not matter what his name is or where he hides.”

Katz added that both he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare for action under Operation Lion’s Roar. He emphasized that Israel, working alongside the United States, would continue to act “with full force” to weaken Iran’s regime and create conditions for its overthrow.

Israel has previously carried out targeted killings of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders shortly after their appointments, raising questions about how Tehran will respond to this latest warning. Iran has continued to launch missile and drone attacks against Israel and neighboring Gulf states in retaliation for ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes that have severely damaged key national infrastructure.