In response to the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly gave the order to strike Israel directly, according to three Iranian officials in the order report, reported by New York Times. This is said to be an order that came during the emergency meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, which took place on the morning of July 31. As evidenced by the NytWhile Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of being “the murderer”, Israel has neither acknowledged nor denied the murder of Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the inauguration of the new Iranian president.
Emergency meeting of the UN Security Council
The UN Security Council meets today, July 31, at 10:00 p.m. Italian time, to discuss the latest episodes in the Middle East. This emergency meeting was requested by Iran to discuss “the Israeli aggression and terrorist attacks in Beirut and Tehran.” The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations refers to the assassination of Hezbollah commander-in-chief Fouad Shukr in Lebanon and that of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran. Both episodes, he said in the letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, “suggest an intention to escalate the conflict and extend the war throughout the region.” Iran therefore called for “decisive measures to address these violations and prosecute those responsible.”
Netanyahu: “We will continue the hunt for Hamas leaders”
Tehran's initiative was supported by representatives of Russia, China and Algeria. The news was announced by the spokesman for the current presidency, which belongs to Moscow. In addition, Iran, in the letter, noted that the assassination “could not have taken place without the authorization and support of the United States – and that – it will not hesitate to exercise its inalienable right of self-defense.” Hamas' position, expressed through the mouth of its deputy commander Khalil Al-Hayya, would rather be the following: “Hamas and Iran do not want a regional war, but a crime has been committed that must be punished.” The quotation mark is reported from Israel Times. However, from Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated: “We will continue the hunt for the leaders of Hamas.” For the head of the Tel Aviv government, “a war of survival is underway against the ring of terrorist missiles that surround us. Since the beginning of the war, we have been fighting against the Iranian axis of evil.”
US warning to its citizens: 'Leave Lebanon'
“We struck Fuad Shukr, who was responsible for the massacre of the children of Majdal Shams and many other Israeli civilians. He was the most wanted terrorist in the world, one of the most important contacts between Hezbollah and Iran,” Netanyahu added, commenting on the results of Israeli operations in recent weeks. “We have closed the account with Shukr and we will close the account with anyone who tries to harm us.” The United States, for its part, through the State Department, has warned its citizens who are in the Land of Cedars: “If you are in Lebanon, prepare to take cover if the situation deteriorates. The American embassy encourages American citizens who are already in southern Lebanon or near the border with Syria to move.”
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