Iran promises revenge against Israel for killing Haniyeh, a top member of the Hamas military group. Haniyeh was killed in an air strike linked to Israel in Tehran, Iran's capital. Israel declares that any form of aggression against it will attract a “heavy price.”
Iran Promises Revenge Against Israel
Official reports from Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, call Mr. Haniyeh a "dear guest in our home" while announcing that avenging his death was "our duty". Political observers fear that the shock assassination could spiral into an all-out regional war while escalating the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The bitter rivalry between both countries spiraled as either party exchanged strikes on either territory since April after Israel struck Iran's embassy in Damascus. The regional rivals had an unprecedented exchange of strikes on each other's soil in April after Israel hit Iran's embassy in Damascus, but international efforts succeeded in containing that cycle of retaliation before it spun out of control.
Amid the brooding regional tensions, a weekend rocket attack killed 12 young people in Israel-occupied Golan Heights last month, spiking the feud even further. Israel reportedly linked the rocket strike to Lebanese ally Hezbollah - a claim the military group has repeatedly denied.
Hours before the strike on Iran's capital, Israel executed a rare assault on Lebanon's capital on Tuesday, with claims of killing a top Hezbollah commander linked to the rocket strike that killed 12 youngsters in Golan Heights.
Fears Mounts of an All-Out Regional War Rise
Meanwhile, various world nations, including the United States of America, are working to prevent a full-fledged war in the region. President Joe Biden's administration has expressed fears of a full-fledged conflict as both countries occasionally exchanged fire following the infamous October attacks by Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that any form of aggression against the country will receive "a very heavy price." However, PM Netanyahu admitted that there are "challenging days ahead" for the country.
Israel's strike followed the inauguration of Iran's new President in Tehran. Mr. Haniyeh reportedly attended the inauguration just before the dramatic murder.
Reports claim that Israel’s attack could yield multiple feedbacks, including direct retaliation from Iran. According to an official statement from Iran's new President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran would “defend its territory” and make attackers “regret their cowardly action.”
A top Iranian parliamentary military committee on national security and foreign policy is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting on Haniyeh’s killings later on Wednesday.
Conclusion
Iran promises to avenge Israel for killing Haniyeh, a top member of the Hamad military group, as Iran's new President vows to protect the country's territory. Meanwhile, Israel maintains that any assault on it would receive a “heavy price” in return. Political observers and international diplomats fear that ongoing tensions between Israel and the rest of Palestine could spiral into a full-fledged regional war.