October 7, 2023... This was the date when the Palestinian organization 'Hamas' brought tears of blood to Israel through their terrorist attack. An attack that killed over 1200 people and took around 250 Israelis hostage. Now, exactly 297 days after this attack... Israel has ended the story of the man responsible, Ismail Haniya, the head of Hamas' political wing. The entire house in Tehran, where Haniyeh was staying as a guest, was demolished in the night between July 30 and 31.
In this strike, besides Haniya, his security guard was also killed. This attack happened in a densely populated residential area of Tehran, executed with such precision that it stunned the world. This precision showcases Israel's effective intelligence inputs and formidable striking capabilities. But how did this attack occur about 2000 kilometers away from Tel Aviv, in Tehran? Was it a drone attack, airstrike, or a surface-to-surface missile strike? This question remains unanswered.
The exact method used in this significant and crucial strike remains unclear. Even Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps is confused about the attack. They stated that the method of this attack is still being examined. Ever since the terror attack on Israel on October 7, Haniyeh had been living away from Palestine in his safe-house in Qatar, making it difficult for Israeli agencies to locate and target him.
About ten months after the October 7 attack, Haniyeh's decision to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran's new president, Massoud Pezeshkian, proved to be his biggest mistake. Sources say once the American and Israeli intelligence agencies learned of Haniyeh's presence in Tehran, they activated. Collaborating with the Mossad, the CIA precisely located him. According to Iranian time, exactly at 2 AM, an explosion in Tehran’s skies claimed the life of Hamas chief Haniya, delivering a massive blow to Hamas.
Source: aajtak
New War Threat in the Middle East
This strike against a prominent figure on Iranian soil poses a serious challenge for Iran, which has voiced threats of retaliation, accusing Israel of having to pay the price. Such tensions significantly raise the risk of a new war beginning in the Middle East.
Until this latest incident, the closest tension between Israel and Iran was an April attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria. With this new attack, the circumstances seem to be shifting drastically. Organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, and Houthi have been sporadically trying to confront Israel, but if Iran attempts to seek revenge, it could escalate into a direct confrontation between powerful nations with far more catastrophic consequences.
Haniya Killed in Highly Secure Tehran Locale
Iranian media coverage suggests that after attending the inauguration ceremony, Haniyeh was staying at a specially-built residence for war veterans in Tehran, considered highly secure and sensitive. The midnight targeted airstrike at this location is evidence of a significant lapse in Iranian security and a success for Israeli intelligence.
While the Iranian military is still trying to determine the method of attack, the media insists it was an airborne projectile. The confusion is such that some agencies are clarifying that the strike didn’t originate from Iran's territory. The Lebanese news site Al-Mayadeen, which supports Hezbollah, reported from an Iranian source that the strike targeted Haniyeh’s location from another country. This attack isn’t an isolated incident in Iran.
Source: aajtak
In 24 Hours, Israel Eliminated Two Major Enemies
Within 24 hours, Israel has eliminated two of its major enemies. Before the Tehran strike, the Israeli military targeted Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut, Lebanon. Similar to Haniyeh’s strike, precise information led to Israeli air force bombing in Beirut, eliminating Shukr, also known as Haj Mohsin, held responsible for attacks on the Golan Heights.
Following Fuad Shukr's death, the Israeli army announced, "Our fighter jets have eliminated Fuad Shukr, the senior military commander and head of the strategic unit of the terrorist organization Hezbollah, in Beirut." On the evening of July 27, a rocket attack by Hezbollah targeted a football field in northern Israel, killing 12 children. Israel vowed retaliation, warning Hezbollah of severe consequences. Shukr was a key advisor to Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah.
Targeting Haniyeh's Sons and Grandsons
Previously, Israel targeted Haniyeh’s three sons. In April of this year, Israeli forces killed Haniyeh’s sons, whom he used to execute terrorist activities in Gaza. Three of Haniyeh’s 13 sons, along with a grandson and three granddaughters, have been killed so far. Israel conducted airstrikes in Gaza, targeting and killing Amir, Hazem, and Mohammed, Haniyeh’s sons. The Israeli army reported that they were planning terrorist operations in Gaza when they were struck by airstrikes.
Subsequently, on June 25, 2024, 10 family members, including his sister, were killed in a refugee camp attack. In October of the previous year, during a fierce Israeli assault on Gaza, 14 family members, including Haniyeh’s nephews, were killed. A granddaughter was killed in a November airstrike, and later that month, his eldest grandson lost his life in another Israeli airstrike. Thus, systematically, Haniyeh's entire family has been gradually targeted. After this attack, the possibility of a large-scale confrontation looms.
