Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could be a potential target as the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran entered its fourth day.

In an interview aired on Monday by ABC News, Netanyahu stated that Israel’s military actions are aimed at halting Iranian aggression, insisting that the ongoing operations are designed to contain and ultimately end hostilities in the region.

“This is not about escalation. This is about ending the conflict,” Netanyahu said.
“The regime in Tehran has for years terrorised the Middle East. Israel’s response is about standing up against this aggression and preventing further chaos.”

Netanyahu’s remarks come amid intensifying military exchanges between the two regional powers. On Monday, Israeli forces reportedly carried out missile strikes on Tehran, with the Israeli leader declaring that his country’s military had gained “full control of the skies.”

In a rare and ominous warning, the Israeli military urged residents of a northeastern district of Tehran to evacuate immediately ahead of expected strikes on “military infrastructure” within hours.

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The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed they had targeted surface-to-surface missile sites and command centres belonging to Iran’s Quds Force, the elite branch of the Revolutionary Guard responsible for coordinating Iran’s proxy militias.

In retaliation, Iran launched fresh missile attacks on Israel earlier on Monday, killing at least eight people and injuring dozens more, according to the Israeli prime minister’s office. Iran’s Health Ministry spokesman, Hossein Kermanpour, reported that 224 Iranians have died since the conflict began last Friday.

So far, 24 Israeli fatalities have been officially recorded.

As the humanitarian toll mounts, international observers have expressed growing alarm over the rapid escalation and the possibility of the conflict spilling into broader regional warfare. Despite rising global calls for de-escalation, both sides appear determined to continue their military campaigns.