Israel Confirms Assassination of Hamas Leader Haniyeh and Issues Warning to Houthis

International news section  24-12-2024

In a groundbreaking revelation, Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has publicly acknowledged the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh. The statement also carried a stern warning for the Houthi rebels in Yemen, cautioning them of severe consequences if they continue their missile attacks on Israel.

Addressing an event to honour Defence Ministry personnel on Monday evening, Katz stated, “We have delivered a decisive blow to the axis of evil and are prepared to do the same to the Houthi terrorist group in Yemen.” He added that Israel’s actions have already weakened Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran’s defence capabilities, and Syria’s Assad regime.

Katz pledged that Israel would target the Houthis’ strategic infrastructure and eliminate their leadership, saying, “Just as we dealt with Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon, we will act in Hodeidah and Sanaa.”

Recent months have seen a surge in missile attacks on Israel by the Houthis, including a recent strike on Tel Aviv using what was described as a hypersonic ballistic missile. The attack lightly injured over a dozen people and struck a public park in Jaffa after evading Israeli defence systems.

Ismail Haniyeh was killed on July 31 during a visit to Tehran for the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Iranian state media reported that Haniyeh and his bodyguard died when a guided projectile struck a residence for military veterans in northern Tehran around 2 a.m.

While Iranian and Palestinian authorities immediately accused Israel of the assassination, the Israeli government had not previously confirmed or denied its involvement. Haniyeh’s death triggered widespread outrage in Palestine and heightened fears of a broader regional conflict. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “harsh retaliation” in response.

In October, Iran launched multiple missile strikes on Israeli cities, citing the killings of key figures in Hamas and Hezbollah as justification. Israeli authorities reported minimal damage, with only a few strikes landing in central and southern areas. Emergency services recorded two injuries in Tel Aviv from falling debris, while Palestinian officials confirmed one fatality in the West Bank caused by related debris.