Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has issued a stark warning to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, drawing parallels to the downfall of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Katz’s office reported that he made the comments during a high-level meeting this morning with the top commanders of the Israel Defense Forces.

“I warn the Iranian dictator against continuing to commit war crimes and launching missiles at Israeli civilians. He would do well to remember the fate of the dictator in the country neighboring Iran who chose this same path against the State of Israel,” Katz said, invoking the example of Saddam Hussein, who was deposed during the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, found hiding in a desert hideout, and subsequently executed.

Katz also pointed to a recent Israeli strike targeting the Tehran headquarters of Iran’s state-run broadcaster IRIB. He noted that other entities connected to the Iranian civil leadership could face similar action. “We will continue today as well to act against regime and military targets in Tehran, just as we did yesterday against the propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority,” he stated.

He further issued a warning to Tehran residents: “I urge the residents of Tehran to evacuate those areas in accordance with the IDF Spokesperson’s instructions in Persian, for their own protection.”