DUBAI: Senior Iranian officials will meet representatives of Iran's regional allies in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen on Thursday to discuss potential retaliation against Israel after the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran, five sources told Reuters.
The region faces the risk of a widening conflict between Israel, Iran and its proxies after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday and the killing of Hezbollah's top commander on Tuesday in an Israeli attack on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital Beirut.
Representatives of Iran's Palestinian allies Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as Yemen's Tehran-backed Houthi movement, Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iraqi resistance groups will attend the meeting in Tehran, said the sources, who declined to be named due to sensitivity. the problem. .
“Iran and members of the resistance will conduct a thorough assessment after the meeting in Tehran to find the best and most effective way to retaliate against the Zionist regime (Israel),” said a senior Iranian official with direct knowledge of the meeting.
Another Iranian official said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards would attend.
“How Iran and the resistance front will respond is currently under review… This will definitely happen and the Zionist regime (Israel) will undoubtedly regret it,” General Mohammad Baqeri, the head of general staff of the Iranian armed forces, on state television.
Iran and Hamas accused Israel of carrying out the attack that killed Haniyeh hours after he attended the inauguration of Iran's new president in Tehran on Wednesday.
But Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility for the attack that has drawn threats of retaliation against Israel and fueled further concern that the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza will escalate into an all-out war in the Middle East.
Israeli Air Force Chief Tomer Bar, speaking at a military graduation ceremony in Israel on Wednesday evening, warned that Israel will act against anyone who intends to harm its citizens.
“We are also strong in defense. Hundreds of air defense soldiers along with air control personnel are stationed across the country with the best systems ready to carry out their mission,” Bar said.
Haniyeh and Islamic Jihad leader Ziad Al-Nakhala, as well as senior representatives of Yemen's Tehran-backed Houthi movement and Lebanon's Hezbollah, attended the inauguration ceremony of Iran's new president in Tehran on Tuesday. Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassim and parliamentarian Hassan Fadlallah were in Iran for the inauguration and remained there for the funeral and meeting, sources familiar with Hezbollah's thinking said.
“Major Repercussion”
Hamas's armed wing said in a statement that Haniyeh's killing “would take the battle to new dimensions and have major repercussions.” Vowing to retaliate, Iran said the US bears responsibility because of its support for Israel.
“Iran has asked key commanders of Iraqi resistance groups to travel to Tehran on Wednesday to attend an urgent meeting to discuss retaliation against recent Israeli attacks, including in Lebanon and Iran, and the US attack in Iraq,” it said a local Iraqi militia commander.
Another militia source said commanders of the resistance groups had left to attend Haniyeh's funeral and also attend an “urgent top-level meeting” to decide the next steps to retaliate against Israel and the United States.
Iranians turned out to mourn Haniyeh on Thursday, a day after he was assassinated.
“All resistance fronts will take revenge for Haniyeh's blood,” Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency.
The Iranian-backed Axis of Resistance includes Hamas – the Palestinian group that started the Gaza war by attacking Israel on October 7 – Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis and various Shiite armed groups in Iraq and Syria. .
On April 13, Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones at Israel in what it said was retaliation for Israel's alleged deadly strike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1, but almost all were shot down.
“Iran's response to the assassination of martyr Haniyeh will be stronger than before,” former senior Revolutionary Guards commander Esmail Kosari told state television.
