Iran and Allies Pledges Retaliation Following Haniyeh’s Assassination: Middle East Stability in Jeopardy
Escalation Looms as Iran and Allies Vow to Avenge Hamas Leader’s Death.
In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, right, speaks with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, center, and the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group Ziad Nakhaleh in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
Tehran, 31 July: Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas, was assassinated early on Wednesday morning in Iran, according to the Palestinian armed group and Tehran. This development sparked vows of retaliation against Israel in a region already unsettled by the fighting in Gaza and the worsening situation in Lebanon.
Hamas’s armed wing said in a statement that, ” Haniyeh’s killing would take the battle to new dimensions and have major repercussions.”
Iran also vowed to retaliate. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that, “Israel had provided the grounds for harsh punishment for itself and that it was Tehran’s duty to avenge the Hamas leader’s death as it had occurred in the Iranian capital.”
Iranian forces had already launched direct strikes on Israel earlier in the Gaza war. Haniyeh, who is normally based in Qatar, arrived in Tehran to witness the inauguration of Masoud Pezeshkian, the country’s recently elected president.
Israel has not yet taken any responsibility for this incident, while U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that while Washington would strive to reduce tensions, it would also support Israel’s defence should it come under assault. The assassination appears to have hampered the prospects of an approaching ceasefire in the 10-month-old Gaza conflict. It occurred less than 24 hours after Israel declared it had assassinated the Hezbollah commander it claimed was responsible for a fatal strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
There have been multiple reactions to the assassination of Haniyeh, all around the globe.
Hamas
“This assassination by the Israeli occupation of Brother Haniyeh is a grave escalation that aims to break the will of Hamas and our people and achieve fake goals,” stated top Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri.
We assure you that the goals of this escalation will not be met. Not individuals, but a notion and an organization are what Hamas is. Whatever the costs, Hamas will press forward on this course, and we have no doubts about our success.
Iran
Masoud Pezeshkian, the new president of Iran wrote on X: Today, dear 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. Witnessing is the art of men of God. The bond between the two proud nations of Iran and Palestine will be stronger than before, and the path of resistance and defence of the oppressed will be followed stronger than ever.
The Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity, honour, and honour, and make the terrorist invaders regret their cowardly actions. “Indeed, Allah is the Most Merciful and Vengeful”
Houthis
The Houthi Supreme Revolutionary Committee’s leader in Yemen, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, declared: “Targeting Ismail Haniyeh is a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values.”
Image Credits: english.alarabiya.net
Hezbollah
“We in Hezbollah share with our dear brothers in the Hamas movement all the feelings of pain over the loss of this great leader, the feelings of anger at the enemy’s crimes, the feelings of pride that the leaders in our movements are leading their people and their mujahideen to martyrdom,” read a statement posted on Telegram by the Hamas and Iran-aligned Lebanese armed group.
Qatar
“We question how mediation can succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side in light of political assassinations and the ongoing targeting of civilians in Gaza while talks continue.” On X, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, wrote.
“Serious partners and an international stand against the denial of human life are necessary for peace.”
Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination has made a ceasefire less likely and increased the likelihood of further regional conflict. The Middle East could be in jeopardy as a result of this incident, which has probably raised tensions.
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- Mohammad Kaif Zaidi is a student of MA Mass Communication and Journalism at Aligarh Muslim University. His background is strongly backed by his previous experience in the vibrant spectrum of mass communication and journalism. He possesses a creative and technical personality with a robust approach towards his work.
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