Iran Terms Israel’s Killing of Hamas Chief Ismail Haniyeh a ‘Strategic Error’, Threatens Retaliation

Iran’s acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri has condemned Israel for what he described as a “strategic mistake” following the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. Bagheri warned that Israel’s actions would have severe consequences and accused the Israeli government of seeking to escalate tensions and conflicts across the region.

The killing of Haniyeh, who was instrumental in peace negotiations for the Gaza Strip and resided in Qatar, has escalated tensions. Israel has not officially confirmed the incident, but Iran has vowed to retaliate, intensifying the volatile situation.

Bagheri claimed that Israel lacks the capability to engage in a full-scale war with Iran, stressing that the Zionist state is not in a position to challenge the Islamic Republic.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held an urgent meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where member countries declared Israel “fully responsible” for the “heinous” act against Haniyeh.

This follows a recent escalation in the region that began with Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in over 1,100 deaths and the seizure of 251 hostages. The ongoing conflict has led to significant casualties, with Israel’s military actions in Gaza reported to have claimed nearly 40,000 lives according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Hezbollah, a Lebanese ally of Hamas, has also pledged retaliation in response to the killing of Haniyeh and Hezbollah’s military commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli strike in Beirut.