Israel Acknowledges Assassination of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran

Defense Minister Katz confirms Israeli responsibility for the July 2024 operation, marking a rare public admission of targeted killings abroad.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly confirmed for the first time that Israel was behind the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, 2024.
Haniyeh, the head of Hamas' political bureau, was killed in a planned explosion at a guesthouse run by Iran's Revolutionary Guard during a visit for the inauguration of Iran's president.
Israel's admission comes months after speculation about its involvement and follows similar operations targeting other militant leaders in Gaza and Lebanon.
The assassination heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with the U.S. deploying additional military assets to the region in response to escalating threats.
Katz warned of future strikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels, citing Israel's broader strategy to target militant groups aligned with Iran.