Israeli Defense Minister Confirms Country's Involvement in the Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran

The Israeli Defense Minister confirmed that Israel was behind the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran; this is the first time an Israeli official has publicly acknowledged this matter. Yisrael Katz stated on Monday evening that Israel would strike at the Houthis and the leaders of this group, just as it had eliminated others, including 'Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.' Speaking at a military ceremony regarding the confrontation with the Houthis in Yemen, the Israeli Defense Minister said, 'What we did with Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon, we will do in Hodeidah and Sanaa.' Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the extremist group Hamas, was killed along with his bodyguard at his residence in Tehran on August 1 while attending the inauguration ceremony of Masoud Pezeshkian. Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union. Israel had not previously explicitly claimed responsibility for Haniyeh's assassination, but Iranian officials immediately attributed it to Israel, and about two months later, for the second time in six months, they fired hundreds of rockets at Israel. Leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah have been killed by Israel since October 7. Yisrael Katz also stated, 'We have defeated Hamas, we have defeated Hezbollah, we have blinded Iran's defense systems, and we have struck Iran's missile production system, we have toppled the Assad regime in Syria, and we have dealt a heavy blow to the axis of evil.' The Israeli Defense Minister referred to the Houthis in Yemen as 'the last group standing' and said his country would deliver a 'heavy blow' to them. The Iran-backed Houthis have repeatedly attacked passing ships in the region over the past year and have also fired missiles and drones at Israel. Last Thursday, Israel carried out a series of attacks against energy infrastructure in Sanaa and the port of Hodeidah in Yemen. Hours before the Israeli Defense Minister's remarks, the Prime Minister of Israel also referred to the 'removal' of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders and officials, stating that his country does not take its eyes off Iran. Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking in the Knesset, referred to 'successes and victories' while warning that challenges, including Iran, still lie ahead for Israel. He stated, 'We do not take our eyes off Iran, which threatens us with destruction, and we are determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and other weapons that could threaten our cities and country.' In recent years, numerous reports have emerged regarding attacks or sabotage attributed to Israel at Iranian nuclear facilities, but Israel has not officially confirmed these reports. However, the Prime Minister and other officials have repeatedly stated that they will not allow Iran access to nuclear weapons. In his remarks in the Knesset, Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his previous statements, once again saying that Israel's actions 'are changing the face of the Middle East.' Opposition parties have accused Netanyahu of jeopardizing the release of hostages and normalizing relations with Arab countries by insisting on continuing military operations in Gaza 'until the complete destruction of Hamas.' However, he strongly rejected these criticisms.