Daily Double: Ismail Haniyeh Eliminated in Tehran

Jul 31, 2024 7:29 am | News, Ticker, Virtual Jerusalem

Hamas political chief was eliminated at 2am Wednesday in a missile strike on his residence in Tehran. Iran’s IRNA news agency said the missile was launched from outside of Iran. An Iranian military response is expected.

The IRGC, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, announced his death and said that a “Zionist strike” was to blame.

“With condolences to the heroic nation of Palestine and the Islamic nation and the combatants of the Resistance Front and the noble nation of Iran, this morning [Wednesday], the residence of Mr. Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political office of the Islamic Resistance of Hamas, was hit in Tehran, and following this incident, he and one of his bodyguards were martyred,” the IRGC statement read. “Early this morning, the residence of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was struck, resulting in his and one of his body guards’ martyrdom. The cause is under investigation and will be announced soon.”

Iran’s National Security Council accused Israel crossing a “red line,” a “severe escalation” that would exact a great price, they said. The Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas condemned this “cowardly act.” Russian and Chinese leaders also condemned the assassination.

Combined with the elimination of Hezbollah’s top military leader Fouad Shukr less than 24 hours prior, the hit on Haniyeh represented a devastating one-two punch to the terror capabilities of Iranian proxies, a painful and humiliating blow to Iran itself.

Some Israeli political leaders, though cautioned by PM Benjamin Netanyahu to maintain silence, could barely contain their glee.

Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu wrote on X: “This is the right way to clean the world from this filth. No more imaginary “peace”/surrender agreements, no more mercy for these mortals.

“The iron hand that will strike them, is the one that will bring peace and a little comfort and strengthen our ability to live in peace with those who desire peace.

“Haniyeh’s death makes the world a little better.”

The US and UK have reportedly moved substantial naval assets closer to Lebanon. A White House spokesperson said early Wednesday that the U.S. was aware of the assassination of Haniyeh but refused to elaborate. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday he did not think a wider war in the Middle East was inevitable affirmed that the United States would help Israel defend itself if attacked.

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