Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, has ordered an attack on Israel, a New York Times report said, quoting unnamed officials who are aware of the development. The order was issued to avenge the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran, the Iranian capital, on Wednesday morning.
The supreme leader gave the order at an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on the same day, the NYT report said. It added that of the three officials who spoke to NYT on the matter, two belongs to Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
Khamenei has already warned Israel of a harsh punishment in a message published on his website. In line with the leader’s sentiments, the IRGC has accused the Jewish state of carrying out the assassination.
Haniyeh, a Palestinian politician, was widely considered to be the chief political leader of Hamas, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. He was the chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau.
He was among the dignitaries invited to the Iranian capital city to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Condoling the death, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X that “Iran is mourning its sharer of sorrow and joy, the constant and proud companion of the path of resistance, the brave leader of the Palestinian resistance, the martyr of al-Quds, Haj Ismail Haniyeh”.
“Yesterday I raised his victorious hand and today I have to bury him on my shoulders,” the translation of his tweet read.
“The bond between the two proud nations of Iran and Palestine will be stronger than before, and the path of resistance and defense of the oppressed will be followed stronger than ever. The Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity, honor and make the terrorist invaders regret their cowardly action,” he said.
