Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz has, for the first time, confirmed that Israel assassinated Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. The acknowledgment came during a speech in which Katz vowed to target the leadership of the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, following their missile and drone attacks on Israel.
Haniyeh, a central figure in Hamas, was killed in an attack on the building where he was staying in the Iranian capital. The operation had been widely attributed to Israel, but this marks the first official confirmation of its involvement.
In his speech, Katz declared Israel’s intention to “strike hard” against the Houthis in Yemen and “decapitate” their leadership. He drew comparisons to operations against key figures from Hamas and Hezbollah:
- Ismail Haniyeh (Hamas leader) was killed in Tehran.
- Yahya Sinwar (Hamas Gaza leader), a principal planner of the October 7 attacks, was killed in a military operation in Gaza in October.
- Hassan Nasrallah (Hezbollah leader), was assassinated in Beirut in September during an Israeli campaign against Hezbollah.
“Just as we did with Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Hassan Nasrallah, we will do so in Hodeida and Sanaa,” Katz asserted, signaling a continuation of targeted operations against Iran-backed groups.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated progress had been made toward reaching a ceasefire with Hamas but did not provide a timeline. Talks between Israel and Hamas are reportedly “90% complete,” according to a senior Palestinian official, though critical issues remain unresolved.
Following Haniyeh’s assassination, Hamas named Yahya Sinwar as its overall leader. After Sinwar’s death in October, the group is still in the process of selecting a new leader.
The Houthis, who control northwestern Yemen, began attacking Israeli and international ships in the Red Sea following Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Katz’s remarks underscore Israel’s growing focus on countering threats from the Houthis as part of its broader regional strategy.
