Israel confirms the assassination of a Hamas leader in Iran
Defense Minister Israel Katz has confirmed for the first time that Israel is responsible for the death of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Ismail Haniyeh was killed by an explosive device in Tehran in July.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has, for the first time, confirmed that West Jerusalem was behind the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh this summer in Tehran. Haniyeh, who served as the Palestinian armed group’s chief negotiator in indirect ceasefire discussions with Israel, was killed by an explosive device in the Iranian capital in late July, shortly after he attended the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
While Israel had previously claimed responsibility for the killings of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah in recent months, it had not acknowledged its role in Haniyeh’s death until now.
Katz's confirmation was part of a warning he delivered to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who persist in their attacks on Israel, during a commemoration event for Israeli security officers on Monday.
"These days, when the Houthi terror organization is firing missiles at Israel, I want to convey a clear message to them: We have defeated Hamas, we have defeated Hezbollah, we have blinded the defense systems in Iran, and damaged the [missile] production systems. We have overthrown the Assad regime in Syria, we have dealt heavy blows to the ‘axis of evil,’ and we will also severely strike the Houthi terror organization in Yemen, which remains the last one standing,” Katz stated, as reported by the Times of Israel.
Earlier this month, the government of former Syrian President Bashar Assad collapsed following a rapid offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other armed groups. Yet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintained that this was “a direct result” of the airstrikes carried out by the Israel Defense Forces against Syria and Iran.
Katz warned that Israel would “strike strategic infrastructure [of the Houthis] and decapitate its leaders. Just as we did to Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah, in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon – we will do in Hodeidah and [Yemen’s capital] Sanaa.”
“Whoever raises a hand against Israel will have their hand cut off, and the long arm of the IDF will strike them and settle the score,” he added.
Following Haniyeh’s assassination, Iran declared that the act was “orchestrated and executed” by Israel and vowed to retaliate at a time of its choosing. This response materialized in October when Tehran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at targets in Israel.
The most recent Houthi attack occurred last week when a missile launched from Yemen breached Israeli air defenses and struck a park in Tel Aviv, resulting in injuries to more than a dozen individuals.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has, for the first time, confirmed that West Jerusalem was behind the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh this summer in Tehran. Haniyeh, who served as the Palestinian armed group’s chief negotiator in indirect ceasefire discussions with Israel, was killed by an explosive device in the Iranian capital in late July, shortly after he attended the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
While Israel had previously claimed responsibility for the killings of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah in recent months, it had not acknowledged its role in Haniyeh’s death until now.
Katz's confirmation was part of a warning he delivered to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who persist in their attacks on Israel, during a commemoration event for Israeli security officers on Monday.
"These days, when the Houthi terror organization is firing missiles at Israel, I want to convey a clear message to them: We have defeated Hamas, we have defeated Hezbollah, we have blinded the defense systems in Iran, and damaged the [missile] production systems. We have overthrown the Assad regime in Syria, we have dealt heavy blows to the ‘axis of evil,’ and we will also severely strike the Houthi terror organization in Yemen, which remains the last one standing,” Katz stated, as reported by the Times of Israel.
Earlier this month, the government of former Syrian President Bashar Assad collapsed following a rapid offensive by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other armed groups. Yet, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintained that this was “a direct result” of the airstrikes carried out by the Israel Defense Forces against Syria and Iran.
Katz warned that Israel would “strike strategic infrastructure [of the Houthis] and decapitate its leaders. Just as we did to Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah, in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon – we will do in Hodeidah and [Yemen’s capital] Sanaa.”
“Whoever raises a hand against Israel will have their hand cut off, and the long arm of the IDF will strike them and settle the score,” he added.
Following Haniyeh’s assassination, Iran declared that the act was “orchestrated and executed” by Israel and vowed to retaliate at a time of its choosing. This response materialized in October when Tehran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at targets in Israel.
The most recent Houthi attack occurred last week when a missile launched from Yemen breached Israeli air defenses and struck a park in Tel Aviv, resulting in injuries to more than a dozen individuals.
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
