"I warn the Iranian dictator (referring to Khamenei) against continuing to commit war crimes and launch rockets at Israeli citizens," Katz said in a statement.
Referring to Saddam Hussein, without mentioning his name, Katz added: "He should remember what happened to the dictator in the country neighboring Iran who took this path against Israel."
During the Second Gulf War 30 years ago, Iraqi forces led by Saddam Hussein bombarded Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv (central) and Haifa (north), with dozens of missiles.
In 2003, an international coalition led by the United States overthrew Saddam's regime on the grounds that he possessed weapons of mass destruction and that there were links between Iraq and al-Qaeda, claims Washington was unable to prove.
Charged with crimes against humanity, Saddam was executed at dawn on Eid al-Adha, December 30, 2006. His execution that day sparked anger among many segments of Sunni Muslims.
Katz said in his statement today: "We are striking Iran with tremendous force on all fronts, in accordance with the war objectives we have set, and tonight, the acting chief of staff of the Iranian army was assassinated."
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli occupation army claimed to have assassinated Iranian military commander Ali Shadmani in the capital, Tehran. Shadmani was appointed as the new commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters, succeeding Gholam Ali Rashid, who was killed in an Israeli attack on Friday.
Katz added, "Today, we will continue to act against regime targets and military targets in Tehran, just as we did yesterday against the propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority," referring to Iranian television.
He continued, "I call on the residents of Tehran to evacuate these areas in accordance with the instructions of the Israeli army spokesman," adding, "Residents of Tehran, do not put yourselves in danger, and do not be hostages to the dictator who uses you for his survival."
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not rule out the possibility of assassinating Khamenei. Asked during an interview with ABC News about reports that US President Donald Trump had rejected an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei, fearing it would escalate the conflict, Netanyahu said, "This will not escalate the conflict, but will end it."
For his part, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said at the start of a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee: "Alongside the military campaign... we are taking proactive measures in the diplomatic arena," without providing further details.
He added: "On the diplomatic front, the Iranian side has demonstrated, and continues to demonstrate, intense diplomatic activity. So far, all its moves have been obstructed... and I expect we will see a move to bring the matter before the UN General Assembly."
Sa'ar claimed "there is great international understanding" of Israel's attacks on Iran, alleging that "the existential threat to Israel has implications for the security of the entire region, the security of Europe, and the global order as a whole."
At dawn on Friday, Israel, with US support, launched a massive attack on Iran, bombing nuclear facilities and missile bases and assassinating military leaders and nuclear scientists. The attack left a total of 224 dead and 1,277 wounded, according to Iranian television.
That same evening, Iran began responding with ballistic missiles and drones, leaving approximately 24 dead, hundreds injured, and significant material damage by Monday afternoon, according to the Israeli Ministry of Health and Hebrew media.
Tel Aviv and Tehran consider each other their arch-enemies, and Israel's current aggression against Iran is the most extensive of its kind, representing a transition from a "shadow war" of bombings and assassinations to an open military conflict.
