Iran has summoned representatives from its proxy organizations to coordinate a joint response following the killing of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Reuters reported Thursday, with the high-stakes meeting, which included delegates from Yemen's Houthi rebels, Lebanon's Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iraqi Shiite militias, coinciding with an emergency session of Iran's Supreme National Security Council to discuss potential retaliation against Israel, widely suspected of carrying out the strike.
Tehran convened a meeting of its proxy organizations on Thursday to strategize a unified response to the killing of Haniyeh in an attack on the Iranian capital's government quarter, Reuters reported. Five separate sources informed the news agency that representatives from Yemen's Houthi rebels, Lebanon's Hezbollah, Palestinian Hamas, and Iraqi Shiite militias met with top Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials in Tehran while the council gathered in the capital to assess the military situation and weigh possible retaliation.
He's nervously scanning the sky for a rogue mosquito drone.
Right after Ismail Haniyeh was killed, here's Ali Khamenei today in Tehran, praying beside his body at the funeral.
Despite the multiplied security layers and guards, fear and distrust still consumed him completely. pic.twitter.com/moLSX85lp7— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) August 1, 2024
This development follows a New York Times report that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had instructed the Islamic Republic's Supreme National Security Council to launch a direct attack on Israel. The recent tension began following the Hezbollah rocket attack on Majdal Shams that claimed the lives of 12 children, which led to Israel taking out Fouad Shukr, Hezbollah's highest-ranking military commander. Hours later, according to foreign sources, Israel targeted Haniyeh in Tehran. Khamenei was seen on Thursday during Haniyeh's memorial service looking repeatedly at the sky with what online commentators speculated that this could be because of his apprehension of possible additional Israeli action.
Shukr was targeted in Beirut's Dahieh neighborhood, marking the second strike in the area since the war began, following an earlier attack that killed senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri. Hezbollah confirmed Shukr's death a day later. Israel has claimed responsibility for the operation. An IDF spokesperson stated that Shukr was behind the recent massacre in Majdal Shams, and the strike against him was Israel's response. While Hezbollah has yet to retaliate, the group announced that Nasrallah would articulate their stance in a speech at Shukr's funeral ceremony this evening.
On July 20, Israel initiated Operation Long Arm in Hodeidah, Yemen. Fighter jets targeted weapons stockpiles, oil refineries, and a power plant. The strike came in response to a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv that resulted in the death of Yevgeny Ferder.
Following the operation, which Israel claimed responsibility for, the Houthis declared that the attack would not deter them from "supporting the Palestinians." Houthi leader Abdul-Malik Badreddin al-Houthi announced the day after the Hodeidah strike that they would persist with their "escalation phase" against Israel, stating that the Tel Aviv attack was merely the beginning. He also hinted at the use of new weapons. It's worth noting that throughout the conflict, the Houthis have repeatedly launched missiles and drones into Israeli territory.
In the wake of Haniyeh's killing in Tehran on Tuesday night, Israel now faces its primary challenge from Iran. While Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has vowed that Israel "will face severe consequences."
