For the first time, Israel has publicly acknowledged its role in the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
“We have dealt a severe blow to the axis of evil, and we will also deal a severe blow to the Houthi in Yemen, which remains the last to stand,” Israeli Defense Minister Katz said.
He elaborated on Israel’s actions against various groups, stating, “We have defeated Hamas, we have defeated Hezbollah, we have blinded Iran’s defense systems and damaged the production systems, we have toppled the [Bashar al-] Assad regime in Syria.”
“When the Houthis is firing missiles at Israel, I want to convey a clear message to them: We will damage [Houthi] strategic infrastructure, and we will behead their leaders – just as we did to Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon. We will do it in [Yemen’s] Hodeidah and Sanaa,” Katz added.
Haniyeh was assassinated on July 31 while in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
According to Iranian state media, an “airborne guided projectile” struck a residence for military veterans where Haniyeh and his bodyguard were staying, killing both. Iranian and Palestinian officials immediately accused Israel of carrying out the attack, though Israeli authorities had not previously confirmed their involvement.
The assassination prompted widespread condemnation and raised fears of escalating regional conflict. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the killing and vowed “harsh punishment” in retaliation.
Following Haniyeh’s death, regional tensions have significantly escalated. Iran launched a series of missile strikes on Israeli cities in October, which it described as retaliation for the killings of its allies, including Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Israeli authorities reported hits in central and southern parts of the country, with two injuries caused by falling shrapnel in the Tel Aviv area. Palestinian authorities said one man was killed by falling debris in the occupied West Bank.
Meanwhile, the Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group, have carried out multiple missile attacks on Israel in recent months. On Saturday, a missile described by the Houthis as a hypersonic ballistic missile evaded Israeli defense systems and struck a public park in Jaffa.
