The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran appears to be a carefully planned operation, with recent reports contradicting Iranian claims that he was killed in an airstrike. Instead, evidence suggests a more calculated and intricate plot.
Reports from The New York Times, Axios, and the Wall Street Journal indicate that Haniyeh was killed by a bomb planted in his apartment weeks, or possibly months, before his arrival in Tehran. He was in Iran for the inauguration of the newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian. This incident follows the death of Haniyeh’s predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash earlier this year, with many pointing the finger at Israel.
According to The Telegraph, the initial plan was to assassinate Haniyeh during Raisi’s funeral in May. However, the operation was reportedly called off due to security concerns, specifically the large number of people present and the potential for failure. Instead, two agents, believed to be recruited by Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, planted explosive devices in three rooms of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp guesthouse in north Tehran. These agents were caught on CCTV entering and exiting the guesthouse within minutes, moving stealthily to plant the devices. The bombs were ultimately detonated remotely.
This incident raises serious questions about the security measures in place within Iran, especially given the high-profile nature of Haniyeh’s visit. It also further fuels tensions between Israel and Iran, with the potential for escalating conflict.
