TEHRAN – Following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered direct strikes against Israel. This directive was issued during an urgent meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
International media reports indicate that Khamenei’s orders came after accusations from Tehran and Hamas, blaming Israel for orchestrating the assassination. Israel has previously conducted targeted operations abroad, including against Iranian nuclear scientists and military figures.
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In response to an Israeli attack on its embassy in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of several Iranian military commanders, Iran launched its largest assault on Israel in decades. This involved hundreds of missiles and drones. The specifics of Iran’s retaliatory attack remain unclear, but military officials are considering using drones and missiles to target military sites near Tel Aviv and Haifa while avoiding civilian areas.
The assassination of Haniyeh has caused global shock and heightened concerns about Iran’s ability to counter Israeli actions on its own soil. Iranian government supporters have also voiced outrage over the security lapse and are calling for internal reforms to better protect senior officials. Alireza Katebi Jahromi, a government-supporting journalist, emphasized the need to focus on safeguarding the supreme leader before seeking revenge.