ISRAEL’S assassination of Ismail Haniyeh was aimed at delivering the message that Iran’s Supreme Leader is “vulnerable” to attack wherever in Iran he may be, experts said last night.
Tensions were high last night as the world waited to see whether Iran would launch a retaliatory attack on Israel, possibly sparking all -out war.
Haniyeh, a Palestinian who headed Hamas’ political bureau, helped to plan the October 7 massacres which killed 1,200 Israelis and was high on Israel‘s hit list. He was also responsible for the terror organisation’s relationships with its biggest military and financial sponsor, Iran.
According to sources, the Hamas leader was killed in a high security zone in outer Tehran, just three miles from the residence of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei – whom he had just met.
The 62-year-old was residing in an official stateroom in the historic Green Palace, where he had stayed before and where protection was provided by a special unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards commanded by Supreme Leader Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba.
Middle Eastern sources have revealed that Haniyeh and a bodyguard were killed when a device was remotely detonated.
Embarrassingly for the regime, the device is said to have been planted by Mossad agents more than two months ago, in an operation which was timed to coincide with the inauguration of new president Masoud Pezeshkian.
The regime has dsputed this version of events, claiming yesterday that Haniyeh had been killed by a “short range projectile with a 7kg warhead”. But even this theory suggests that the projectile was fired from within Iran itself and at close range.
Khamenei vowed to avenge the death, calling for Iran to carry out direct strikes on Israel after a meeting with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
That threat caused France to urge all of its citizens to leave Iran.
And on Friday US commanders redeployed a carrier strike group, a fighter squadron and additional warships to help defend Israel as the region braces for an Iranian retaliation.
It is perhaps the largest movement of US forces to the region since the early days of the Gaza war, when the Pentagon sent two carrier strike groups toward the Middle East in a very public warning to regional militant groups not to expand the fighting.
“Dignitaries like Haniyeh come to Iran because they are assured protection by IRGC’s special guard unit controlled by Mojtaba Khamenei, the Supreme Leader’s son. To be able to bypass these means that someone from within helped Israel. It is humiliating for the regime,” said expert Catherine Perez-Shakdam.
“This attack is a clear indicator that Mossad is back, after its failure at detecting the October 7 attacks, and it is a message to Khamenei that he is not safe anywhere.”
She added: “Benjamin Netanyahu has made a calculation – he believes Israel is ready to withstand any Iranian attack,. Israel is ready for war.”
Iran is just two days away from acquiring enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon, according to US intelligence warnings, though it will take at least 18 months before it can develop a successful ballistic delivery system.
“Iran’s nuclear ambitions are always a concern for Israel and the West,” said Megan Sutcliffe of Sibylline strategic risk group.
“This strike sends a message to both the Supreme Leader personally, and to the domestic population that Iran cannot safeguard important guests on Iranian soil.”
It is also being assessed by members of Iran’s axis of the resistance – the proxies it controls, she said, adding: “If Iran cannot guarantee security in its own borders, there is a risk that some of these groups could start to display more autonomous streaks.”