According to a report by the New York Times, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ordered a direct attack on Israel, in retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, attributed to Israel.
Three Iranian officials who were briefed on the matter further added that the attack would involve drones and missiles targeting military sites near Tel Aviv and Haifa. According to these officials, Iran will be careful to avoid hitting civilian targets in any attack on Israel. Khamenei gave the order at an emergency meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council this morning, shortly after Iran announced Haniyeh's death.
The Iranian officials indicated that one option being considered is a coordinated attack from Iran and other fronts where it has allied forces, including Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, to achieve maximum impact.
Khamenei, who has the final say in all state matters and is also the supreme commander of the Iranian armed forces, ordered military commanders from the Revolutionary Guards and the army to prepare both offensive and defensive plans in case Israel or the United States attacks Iran, and the war escalates, the officials said.
Israel neither confirmed nor denied the killing of Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the inauguration ceremony of Iran's new president. The killing stunned Iranian officials, who described it as a red line being crossed. It was an embarrassing security breach for a country eager to project power, but long frustrated by its inability to prevent Israel from conducting covert operations on its soil.
The embarrassment was compounded by the prominence of Haniyeh, the presence of other allies, and the fact that he was attacked in a highly secured guesthouse of the Revolutionary Guards on a day of heightened security in the capital. Analysts said that Iran sees retaliation as necessary both to avenge Haniyeh's killing and to deter Israel from targeting other powerful enemies like Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah or General Ismail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force overseeing military groups outside Iran.
"Iran probably believes it has no choice but to respond to deter further Israeli attacks, protect its sovereignty, and maintain its credibility with its regional partners," said Ali Vaez, Iran director at the International Crisis Group.
As a reminder, the last time Iran directly attacked Israel was on the 190th day of the war, in April, in what was called "Drone Night," when the Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched dozens of drones and missiles toward certain areas in Israel.
