Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a public video statement on Wednesday speaking about the significant blow recently dealt to Iranian proxy forces.
Netanyahu spoke about Israel’s recent targeting of the Iran-backed Houthis and the strike on key Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr, who was killed south of Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday.
The prime minister did not mention the deadly attack on Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, for which Israel has not taken responsibility.
No one in Tehran immediately claimed responsibility for Haniya’s attack, but it quickly drew criticism from Israel, which vowed to kill Haniya and other Hamas leaders over the terror group’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Military official says US not involved in attack on Hamas leader in Tehran
Netanyahu said a significant blow had been dealt to Iranian proxies, but made no mention of the deadly attack on Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, for which Israel has not taken responsibility. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, “Haniya was martyred on our soil and it is Iran’s duty to avenge his blood.”
Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack in Tehran on Wednesday. (Majid Asgaripur/West Asia News Agency/Reuters, File)
The Iranian embassy in the UK called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council following Haniya’s assassination.
Haniyeh’s death has raised alarm over the possibility of a broader regional war amid efforts to ease rising tensions in the Middle East.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed to take revenge against Haniyeh. (Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran, via The Associated Press, File)
IDF reveals four reasons for killing Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin could not confirm whether Israel was behind the attack or whether military intelligence had warned of it.
“I can’t tell you anything about that. We’ve heard reports but we don’t have any more information than that,” Austin told reporters in Subic Bay, Philippines, adding that the U.S. government would seek to de-escalate tensions but would come to the defense of the Jewish state of Israel if it were attacked.
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In his speech, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel continues to prepare for all scenarios, but that a ceasefire agreement can still be reached despite recent events.
Fox News’ Yonat Frilling and Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
