US: The Security Council Must Address the Actions of Iran's 'Proxies and Terrorist Partners'

The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the attacks that occurred this week, resulting in the death of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, in Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the killing of a key Hezbollah commander named 'Fouad Shukr' in an Israeli army attack during his speech on Tuesday, but did not mention Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran shortly after meeting with Ali Khamenei. In his live broadcast speech, Netanyahu stated that Fouad Shukr was 'responsible for the murder of children in Majdal Shams' in Israel. The two attacks attributed to Israel came after Hezbollah, a group supported by the Islamic Republic, was accused of killing 12 children in a rocket attack on a soccer field in Majdal Shams, located in northern Israel. Hezbollah denied carrying out that attack. Robert Wood, who presented a statement on behalf of the US at the Security Council meeting on Wednesday, said, 'There is absolutely no doubt that Hezbollah was responsible for this attack and used Iranian weapons, and the attack was carried out from a part of Lebanon controlled by Hezbollah.' He stated that since October 8, one day after Hamas's attack on southern Israel that ignited the Gaza war, 'Hezbollah has repeatedly fired rockets at Israel with the support and backing of the Islamic Republic of Iran, disregarding Security Council Resolution 1701.' Wood mentioned that Iran's support is not limited to Hezbollah, as the Islamic Republic has also supported the Houthis in Yemen, who have repeatedly attacked Israel and commercial ships, and has similarly supplied weapons to 'terrorist groups in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.' The US Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations added that these actions by the Islamic Republic are 'destabilizing and contrary to the Security Council's efforts to reduce regional tensions.' Wood stated that Iran has violated Resolution 2218 by sending weapons to the Houthis. He added that the Houthis' attacks are a 'clear disregard' for Security Council Resolution 2722, which calls for an immediate end to those attacks. In his statement, he also said that the Islamic Republic 'must adhere to the Council's resolutions, and if it fails to do so, the Security Council should consider further measures to enforce its resolutions to hold Iran accountable and address the repeated actions of its proxies and terrorist partners that threaten regional peace and security.' This US representative stated that a broader war is neither imminent nor inevitable, 'although Iran's opportunistic attacks and its network of proxies and terrorist partners across the region have repeatedly brought us closer to a regional conflict.' Wood added that the US encourages those members of the Security Council who have influence over the Islamic Republic to 'increase pressure' on Iran to prevent escalation by its proxies against Israel and other actors. He stated, 'In fact, each member of this Council should demand that Iran stop arming, advising, and financing terrorist groups and curb the actions of its proxies and partners that threaten regional peace and security.' Wood further emphasized that the United States will continue to fulfill its responsibilities and appreciates the efforts of other countries that share the US commitment to supporting sustainable regional peace. He also referenced the announcement of Ismail Haniyeh's death, stating that the US has no information about it and had no involvement in it. He added, 'We have no independent confirmation of the claim made by Hamas regarding his death.' The New York Times claimed that Khamenei ordered a 'direct attack' on Israel. Confirmation of Ismail Haniyeh's death by missile; a senior Hamas official stated that before the strike, windows were broken and walls collapsed. Lloyd Austin: I do not expect Iran-backed groups to increase attacks on US forces in the region. The White House: The US has 'no specific information' about the death of the Hamas political leader in Tehran. Exclusive: Richard Goldberg: Haniyeh was killed in Iran because Israel, according to an 'unwritten agreement,' does not target anyone in Qatar. Lindsey Graham: Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic are one; Israel has the right to target the masterminds of terrorism anywhere and anytime.