Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ordered a direct strike against Israel in response to the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which Iran attributes to Israel. Khamenei issued the directive during an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday morning, shortly after Iran reported Haniyeh’s death. Several Iranian officials, including two members of the Revolutionary Guards, informed the New York Times that Iran’s military commanders are considering using drones and missiles to target Israel. They would aim for military sites near Tel Aviv and Haifa while avoiding civilian areas. The Times they were also reported that Iran could consider a coordinated attack with its regional terror proxy groups, including the Houthis in Yemen and militias in Syria and Iraq.
The assassination of Haniyeh is a significant humiliation for Iran. It is also the latest step in a long ladder of humiliations for Iran, as Israel and Hamas have failed to come up with a prisoner exchange deal that could lead to peace. The assassination of Haniyeh could also jeopardize a planned visit by Iran’s president to Qatar, where Hamas is based.
Hamas’ military wing has carried out two shooting operations in the West Bank in response to Haniyeh’s death, according to a statement published on the group’s website. “These operations are an important step towards a qualitative change in the coming days, which will be followed by launching more and more attacks,” the statement read.
In a Facebook post, the Palestinian Prime Minister condemned Haniyeh’s assassination and called on “all factions and forces of our people to further national unity and steadfastness in the face of Israel and its crimes.”
While Palestinian officials have condemned the killing, the Israeli government has not. On the contrary, Netanyahu has praised the security services for carrying out a “very complex operation” that “was executed in an exact and targeted manner.” The prime minister also thanked the US for its support of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Khamenei’s direct order to strike Israel could be a warning to the Trump administration, which has been urging Iran to rein in its regional aggression. Nevertheless, the US is not prepared to start a war in the Middle East, and a military confrontation would likely cause severe economic and geopolitical consequences for all sides involved. “The escalation of the situation, with the lack of calculated and measured reactions by all parties, will only complicate the efforts that have been made to achieve peace in the region,” wrote Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday. “It is in everyone’s interests to avoid an armed conflict and continue working towards peaceful solutions.”
