Hamas political chief Ismail Haniya was killed in an attack in Tehran. One expert speaks of a “humiliation for Iran”. All developments in the news blog.
21:53: The supreme Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is said to have given the order to attack Israel directly. This is reported by the New York Times, citing three unnamed officials. The order was given in an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.
Khamenei is said to have instructed the military to draw up plans for both an attack and a defense in case Israel, for example, were to attack the country together with the United States.
21:06: The US government is sticking to its appeasement line following the attacks in Lebanon and Iran attributed to Israel. “We do not believe that escalation is inevitable, and there are no signs that escalation is imminent,” National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby repeated his words of the past few days.
At the same time, he stressed that he did not want to simply dismiss the current concerns. The situation in the region was being monitored “very, very closely.” When asked what effect the events in Beirut and Tehran could have on the negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, Kirby replied that it was too early to make a judgment. “It remains complicated, and the reports from the region that we have seen in the last 24 to 48 hours do not make it any less complicated.”
He does not want to sound too optimistic, stresses Kirby. “But we still believe that it is worth pursuing the current agreement.” In the US view, there is still “a viable process” and “interested negotiators.”
19:38: Following the Israeli attack on a suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut, Hezbollah in Lebanon has confirmed the death of its military commander Fuad Shukr. The pro-Iranian Shiite militia describes the Israeli attack on Shukr as a “sinful attack and a serious crime”.
Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah will comment on the matter at the commander’s funeral, it is said. This will take place on Thursday. So far, Hezbollah has remained largely silent on its reactions to Tuesday evening’s attack.
19:33: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is threatening new military strikes if the country becomes the target of retaliation following the deadly attacks on Hamas leader Ismail Hanijeh and Hezbollah commander Muhsin “Fuad” Shukr. No matter where the attacks come from, there will be a high price to pay, he announced in a TV address. Israel is prepared for all eventualities. He explains that Iran’s proxies have been dealt devastating blows and says his country is going through challenging times.
18:26: In view of a possible expansion of the war in the Middle East, the UN Security Council is to meet in New York for an emergency session. Several diplomats reported to the German Press Agency that a meeting requested by Iran and supported by China, Russia and Algeria will take place today at 10 p.m. CEST.
18:16: According to the Islamist terrorist organization, Hamas foreign chief Ismail Haniya was killed in a targeted rocket attack in Tehran. “A rocket hit the room where Ismail Haniya was staying and he was hit directly,” said senior Hamas official Khalil al-Haya at a press conference in Beirut. The information was provided by witnesses who were near Haniya at the time of the attack. Brickwork and window panes were also destroyed.
