
(Scypre.com) – Hamas’ top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed on Wednesday in a pre-dawn airstrike in Tehran, the Iranian capital. Both Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of the assassination, which has the potential to escalate into a regional conflict. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has vowed revenge against Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not directly address the assassination but warned that Israel would impose severe consequences for any aggression against it. “There are challenging days ahead,” he remarked.
This strike comes in the wake of Israel’s vow to eliminate Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders following the group’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, which ignited the current conflict in Gaza. The timing is particularly significant as it occurred shortly after Haniyeh attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president in Tehran and only hours after Israel targeted a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.
The assassination is fraught with danger due to the volatile nature of regional conflicts and the specific decision to carry it out in Tehran. A direct confrontation between Iran and Israel could ensue if Iran retaliates, prompting the U.S. and other nations to urgently work to prevent a broader, more deadly conflict.
Ayatollah Khamenei, in a statement on his official website, called the assassination “a harsh punishment” for Israel and declared that revenge was “our duty.”
The animosity between Israel and Iran nearly led to war earlier this year following an Israeli strike on Iran’s embassy in Damascus. Although the situation was temporarily defused through international diplomacy, the assassination of Haniyeh has the potential to reignite tensions.
Haniyeh’s death may also jeopardize ongoing negotiations for a cease-fire and the release of hostages in Gaza, which had reportedly been progressing. Additionally, it could escalate the already heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been a focal point for international diplomats striving to maintain stability following a deadly rocket attack on the Golan Heights.
Israel executed a rare strike in Beirut on Tuesday evening, killing a top Hezbollah commander, Fouad Shukur, who was allegedly behind the rocket attack. This strike also resulted in the deaths of three women and two children, as reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The U.S. response to Haniyeh’s assassination was cautious. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the U.S. was neither aware of nor involved in the operation. He emphasized the importance of achieving a cease-fire without speculating on the incident’s impact. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed hope for a diplomatic solution on the Israeli-Lebanon border, asserting that war is not inevitable and encouraging diplomacy.
International diplomats are alarmed by the situation. One Western diplomat, speaking anonymously, warned that the strikes in Beirut and Tehran could “almost kill” hopes for a Gaza cease-fire and lead to a “devastating regional war.”
Israel typically refrains from commenting on operations conducted by its Mossad intelligence agency. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israel does not seek war following the Beirut strike but is preparing for all possibilities. He did not mention Haniyeh’s assassination.
The killing of Haniyeh, who had been living in exile in Qatar since 2019, marks a significant escalation. Israel’s attempts to target Hamas leaders in Lebanon and Syria had been less sensitive compared to this high-profile assassination in Iran. Israel has previously been suspected of carrying out assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists, including the 2020 killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
In his final hours, Haniyeh was seen attending the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian, alongside leaders from other militant groups. He was later killed by a missile strike at his Tehran residence, according to Hamas and Iranian officials.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned that Israel will face a “harsh and painful response” from Iran and its allies. An emergency meeting of an influential Iranian parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy was scheduled to discuss the strike.
Hamas’ military wing stated that Haniyeh’s assassination “takes the battle to new dimensions and will have major repercussions on the entire region.” Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to its campaign in Gaza, emphasizing the achievements made by resisting external pressures to end the war.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 39,300 Palestinian deaths and more than 90,900 injuries, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Despite the heavy bombardment, Hamas continues to launch rockets into Israel. The broader regional impact remains uncertain, with the potential for increased attacks from Iran’s allies, including Hezbollah and other militias.
As a show of solidarity with Hamas, Hezbollah has engaged in almost daily exchanges of fire with Israel across the Lebanese border, threatening to escalate into full-scale war. The Houthis and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria have also launched attacks against Israel and American bases, although most have been intercepted.
A recent U.S. airstrike southwest of Baghdad killed four members of Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia responsible for attacking U.S. bases. A U.S. defense official confirmed the strike was a defensive measure against combatants posing a threat to U.S. and coalition forces.