Iran cites Israel’s confession to assassination as justification for October 1 attack

Tehran: Iran’s envoy to the United Nations (UN) has said that Israel’s “clear confession” to assassinating Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil justifies Tehran’s military response against Israel on October 1.

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN, made the remarks in a letter addressed to the UN Security Council while reacting to the confession on Monday by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, in which he admitted for the first time that Israel had assassinated Haniyeh in Tehran, Xinhua news agency cited a report from Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Haniyeh was killed on July 31 along with his bodyguard when their residence in Tehran was attacked. Both Hamas and Iran accused Israel of carrying out the assassination.

On October 1, Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, describing the attack as a retaliation for the assassinations of key resistance figures, including Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and senior Iranian commander Abbas Nilforoushan.

Speaking at a recent Defence Ministry event, Katz had also issued a warning to Houthi forces in Yemen after their drone attacks, which have been intercepted by Israeli air defence systems.

“We will strike the Houthis hard, target their strategic infrastructure, and decapitate their leaders — just as we did to Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon,” Katz had said.

Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed when their residence was struck in Tehran, according to a statement published on the IRGC’s official news outlet, Sepah News. The statement mentioned that the attack was under investigation, and the results would be announced later. (IANS)

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