Lamaane News Network sources confirm that Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz declared on Wednesday that any individual appointed to lead Iran’s regime would be a legitimate target for elimination.

Speaking on the platform X, Katz said, "Every leader appointed by the Iranian terrorist regime to continue its program of destroying Israel, threatening the United States and free nations, and suppressing the Iranian people will be a clear target for neutralization. It does not matter their name or where they hide.”

Katz emphasized that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the Israeli military to prepare for all contingencies as part of "Operation Lion’s Roar,” the codename for Israel’s ongoing campaign against Iran. "We will continue to act with full force, hand in hand with our U.S. partners, to crush the regime’s capabilities and pave the way for the Iranian people to overthrow and replace it,” Katz added.

The warnings come amid heightened U.S.-Israeli military actions targeting Iranian leadership infrastructure. Early strikes reportedly hit a building belonging to the Assembly of Experts, responsible for selecting Khamenei’s successor. U.S. President Donald Trump later commented that "the worst outcome for Iran would be choosing a leader as flawed as Khamenei.”

Analysts note that these developments mark a dramatic escalation in Israeli-U.S. operations in Iran, with potential implications for regional stability. 

Experts warn that continued targeting of Iranian leadership could intensify tensions with regional allies and complicate broader diplomatic efforts.