Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, confirmed that the country had assassinated Hamas’ top leader, Ismail Haniyeh, last summer. Katz also issued a warning that Israel might target the leadership of Yemen’s Houthi rebel group, which is aligned with Iran, suggesting they could meet the same fate as Haniyeh. In his address on Monday, Katz highlighted Israel’s history of eliminating key figures from Hamas and Hezbollah, its involvement in the downfall of Syria’s Bashar Assad, and its destruction of Iran’s anti-aircraft systems.
In a speech on Monday, Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, declared that Israel would target the Houthis’ key infrastructure and eliminate their leadership, much like it did with figures such as Ismail Haniyeh, Yehya Sinwar, and Hassan Nasrallah in locations like Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon. Katz specifically mentioned Hodeida and Sanaa as potential targets for similar actions.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran after attending the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed in a statement on July 31 that Haniyeh, along with his bodyguard, was assassinated when his residence in Tehran was attacked.
At the time of Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination, Israel did not directly claim responsibility for the killing. Haniyeh, who was primarily based in Qatar, had been a key figure in Hamas’ international diplomacy, particularly during the ongoing conflict that escalated with the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7. He had also participated in indirect talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza. Later, Israeli forces in Gaza killed Yahya Sinwar, Haniyeh’s successor and the mastermind behind the October 7 attack, which triggered the latest surge of violence in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Throughout the ongoing conflict, the Iranian-backed Houthis have launched numerous missiles and drones at Israel, including a missile that struck Tel Aviv on Saturday, injuring at least 16 people. In response, Israel has conducted three rounds of airstrikes in Yemen and has vowed to intensify its pressure on the rebel group until the missile attacks cease.
