Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Monday that Israeli forces were responsible for the assassination of former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this year. During a defence ministry event, Katz explicitly warned that similar actions could target the leadership of Yemen’s Huthi rebels.
“We will decisively strike the Huthis and decapitate their leadership — just as we did with Haniyeh, (Yahya) Sinwar, and (Hassan) Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon. We are prepared to extend our efforts to Hodeida and Sanaa,” stated Katz.
NEW DEVELOPMENT: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has acknowledged Israel’s involvement in the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. pic.twitter.com/647QIOcibG
— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) December 24, 2024This statement marks Israel’s first public acknowledgement of its involvement in the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran in late July.
“Anyone who threatens Israel will face severe consequences. The IDF (Israeli military) is ready to respond forcefully and hold aggressors accountable,” Katz declared, according to an official ministry release.
Previously, Israel had not admitted to its role in Haniyeh’s death, although Iran and Hamas had pointed to Israeli involvement. Haniyeh, recognized for leading Hamas’s ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, was killed on July 31 by an explosive device allegedly planted by Israeli operatives.
Israel admitted Monday for the first time publicly that it was behind the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July. https://t.co/Whs1dexnN7
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) December 24, 2024Notably, the day before his death, Haniyeh had attended the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Read: Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh Assassinated in Tehran
After Haniyeh’s killing, Israel conducted operations that resulted in the deaths of Hassan Nasrallah in a Beirut bombing on September 27 and Yahya Sinwar, Haniyeh’s successor, on October 16 in Gaza.
Israeli authorities attributed the initiation of the ongoing conflict in Gaza to an October 7, 2023, attack masterminded by Sinwar, escalating tensions and military responses in the region.
