Tehran: Iran has launched a manhunt and arrested over two dozen suspects, including high-ranking intelligence officers, following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. The suspects also include staff at a military-run guesthouse where Haniyeh was reportedly staying.
Hamas Political Bureau chief Haniyeh was killed in an attack in Tehran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Wednesday, July 31, as reported by Press TV.
Ismail Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar, was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Iranian President-elect, Masoud Pezeshkian. This incident has been described as a severe security breach, raising concerns about Iran’s ability to protect its leaders and allies.
There are reports that the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, used the services of its Iranian agents for the assassination. According to reports in Hebrew media, members of the elite Ansar al-Mahdi unit of the Iranian army, the IRGC, were hired by Mossad to execute Haniyeh.
Reports suggest that the original plan was to kill Haniyeh during his visit to the funeral of the then-Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in May this year. However, it was called off due to certain difficulties.
Meanwhile, sources in Israel’s Defence Minister’s office said that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) were prepared for any counter-attack from Iran and its proxies in response to Haniyeh’s killing. The sources said that the IDF has strengthened Israel’s borders in both the south and north of the country to prevent any probable attempts from Hamas, Hezbollah, or Houthis.
Arab media outlets reported that the murder of Haniyeh, allegedly by hired agents from Iran’s elite forces, has shocked the Iranian regime. Iran’s intelligence agency has already commenced a crackdown on those who were used by Mossad to execute the high-profile Hamas leader.
The IRGC’s specialized intelligence unit has taken charge and launched thorough search operations of the guesthouse, detaining staff and confiscating electronic devices. According to the New York Times, the security team has scrutinized surveillance footage and guest lists, focusing on the movements of individuals within the compound, which is managed by the IRGC and is part of a larger security complex.
Reports suggest several senior military and intelligence officials responsible for Tehran’s security have also been interrogated and placed under arrest pending further inquiries. However, the Guards Corps has not yet made public any details regarding the arrests but has vowed severe revenge. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has also issued an order to strike Israel in retaliation.
The investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the security breach within Iran’s territory. Ali Vaez, the Iran director for the International Crisis Group, stated, “The perception that Iran can neither protect its homeland nor its key allies could be fatal for the Iranian regime because it signals to its foes that if they can’t topple the Islamic Republic, they can decapitate it.”
