Iran's leader is reportedly ordering a direct attack on Israel.
The killing of Hamas leader Haniyeh in Tehran humiliates the Islamic Republic, which hosted the high-ranking terrorist as a state guest. Iran has already announced retaliation - and there are now first indications of what that might look like.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly ordered direct retaliation against Israel for the death of senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. The "New York Times" writes this, citing three Iranian officials informed about the order, including two members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard.
The newspaper has not published information on the time and scope of a possible Iranian retaliatory attack. Khamenei issued the order at an emergency meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday morning. This has not yet been confirmed.
Iran and the Islamist Hamas blame Israel for the killing of Hamas' external chief Haniyeh. Haniyeh was in the Iranian capital Tehran to attend the inauguration of new Iranian President Massoud Peschkani. Israel, which is at war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has neither confirmed nor denied the killing of Haniyeh.
It wouldn't be the first direct attack
Khamenei had already publicly announced retaliation. "The criminal Zionist regime (Israel) has murdered our guest in our house," Khamenei was quoted on his website. "There will be a harsh punishment." For Iran, the attack on its state guest is a severe humiliation and an affront to its security apparatus. Peschkani was inaugurated on Tuesday, with representatives from over 80 countries in attendance.
In mid-April, Iran attacked its declared arch-enemy Israel directly for the first time in the history of the Islamic Republic. Israel's army reported around 300 rockets, drones, and cruise missiles. Almost all were intercepted, causing only minor damage. Iran had announced the operation in advance as a retaliatory strike for the killing of senior officers in Syria. On April 1, two brigade generals were killed in a suspected Israeli-led air strike on the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus.
The International Criminal Court's The Hague-based Commission might seek to investigate the killing of Hamas leader Haniyeh, given the seriousness of the incident and the potential for further escalation. Moreover, The Commission could argue that the targeting of a high-ranking political figure, even if associated with a terrorist organization, constitutes a breach of international law.
