Netanyahu says, "Khamenei is not off limits" after devastating strike on Soroka Hospital

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his most sweeping declarations yet about Israel's military campaign against Iran during a visit Thursday to Soroka hospital, which was struck by Iranian missiles early this morning, confirming for the first time that Israeli forces have targeted Tehran's nuclear archive and outlining ambitious war aims that extend far beyond previous operations.

Speaking at Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva, one of four locations hit by Iranian missiles Thursday morning, Netanyahu revealed the breadth of Israel's assault on Iran's nuclear infrastructure. "We hit Iran's nuclear archive," he stated, marking the first official acknowledgment of strikes against Iran's sensitive nuclear documentation. The Prime Minister added that Israel has "hit the nuclear program very hard" and targeted "the top of their scientists."

Netanyahu outlined what he described as Israel's dual strategic objectives: dismantling Iran's nuclear capabilities and facilitating regime change. "We set two goals, nuclear and bringing down the regime," he said, though he placed responsibility for Iran's political future on its own population. "Iran's liberation depends on the Iranian people, and this will be tested by them."

The Israeli leader's comments signal a dramatic escalation in stated war aims. When asked about the possibility of assassinating Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Netanyahu responded that "all options are open," while instructing his cabinet to "reduce talk and increase action."

Netanyahu's hospital visit came hours after Iran launched approximately 20 missiles at Israel, including at least one equipped with cluster munitions that scattered unexploded ordnance across civilian areas. The attack represents a significant escalation, with cluster bombs, widely condemned for their indiscriminate nature, targeting population centers.

The Prime Minister confirmed recent coordination with President Trump, stating that potential U.S. military involvement "depends on Trump, he knows the game." Netanyahu emphasized the division of responsibilities: "He will do what's good for America, and I will do what's good for Israel."

In a historical parallel that underscored his regime-change ambitions, Netanyahu invoked ancient Persian-Jewish relations: "2500 years ago Cyrus freed the Jewish people, now the Jewish people are helping the Persian people to be freed."

The campaign has extracted personal costs even from Israel's leadership. Netanyahu revealed that his son Avner has canceled his wedding for the second time due to missile threats, describing it as part of the "personal costs" borne by Israeli families during the conflict.

Netanyahu promised the military operation would continue until Iran's strategic threats are eliminated entirely. "At the end of this operation, there will be no nuclear threat to Israel and no ballistic missile threat," he declared, acknowledging there are "more nuclear targets" yet to be struck.

The revelations mark the most comprehensive disclosure of Israel's anti-nuclear campaign, suggesting operations that extend far beyond the known facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and Arak to include Iran's scientific personnel and archival infrastructure. The scope of targeting indicates a systematic effort to dismantle Iran's nuclear program at multiple levels, from physical facilities to human expertise to documentary records.

As Netanyahu spoke at the damaged hospital, the contrast in regional stability was evident in financial markets: Tel Aviv's stock exchange posted gains for the fourth consecutive day while Tehran's bourse remained shuttered indefinitely, reflecting the asymmetric economic impact of the escalating conflict.