The directive was issued at an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the report added. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on Iran to attack Israel directly in response to the elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday, according to a New York Times report citing three Iranian sources.
The directive was issued at an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, the report added.
Following the announcement of the killing, Khamenei said, “The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime” has “prepared a harsh punishment for itself.”
Haniyeh killed in Tehran
Earlier on Wednesday, Hamas said Haniyeh had been killed in Tehran, Iran.
Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas deputy chief in Gaza, later said a missile had struck and directly killed Haniyeh in Iran. The missile had also destroyed part of the building, according to Al-Hayya.
Iran last attacked Israel on the night between April 13 and 14, when it launched a barrage of more than 300 drones, ballistic and cruise missiles toward Israel. Some 99% of such projectiles were shot down.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had earlier in the day said, “If Israel is attacked, we certainly will help defend Israel.”
US National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said, “We have and will maintain a level of readiness to preserve our national security interest in the region
“It’s not like we take a blind eye to what Iran is capable of doing and has shown they’re capability of doing in the region.
“It’s not like we’ve demonstrated an unwillingness to defend Israel from threats in the region, including from Iran if that happens,” Kirby said.
“We maintain that capability and that readiness to do so now,” he added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had on Wednesday night warned that there could be challenging days ahead and that Israel was prepared for any scenario as he spoke of Israel’s existential battle against Tehran.
Earlier in the day he held a security cabinet meeting and security consultations
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