For the first time, Israel has confirmed its involvement in the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Israeli Defense Minister Katz stated on Monday, “We have defeated Hamas, Hezbollah, and damaged Iran’s defense and production systems. We also toppled the Assad regime in Syria and have inflicted a major blow to the axis of evil. The Houthis in Yemen are the last remaining group, and we will target them as well.”
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Katz emphasized that Israel would strike the Houthis’ infrastructure and eliminate their leaders, as it had done to Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon, respectively.
Haniyeh was killed on July 31 in Tehran while attending the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. According to Iranian state media, an “airborne guided projectile” hit a military veterans’ residence where Haniyeh and his bodyguard were staying, resulting in both their deaths. While Iranian and Palestinian officials immediately blamed Israel, Israeli authorities had not confirmed their role until now.
The assassination led to widespread condemnation and raised concerns of an escalating regional conflict. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the killing, vowing harsh retaliation.
Tensions in the region have intensified since Haniyeh’s death. Iran launched missile strikes on Israeli cities in October, citing retaliation for the killings of its allies, including Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. These attacks resulted in injuries in Israel and one death in the occupied West Bank.
Meanwhile, the Houthi rebels from Yemen have also launched several missile attacks on Israel. On Saturday, they launched a hypersonic ballistic missile that evaded Israeli defense systems and struck a public park in Jaffa.
