Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei has reportedly ordered a direct strike on Israel following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh.
The order was given during an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council. Officials revealed that Khamenei instructed the IRGC and Iranian Army to prepare both attack and defense plans, including a potential combined drone and missile assault similar to the one launched in April.
Hours after the attack, the Islamic Republic held an emergency meeting of its Supreme National Security Council at the supreme leader’s residence, with the participation of Quds Force commander Esmail Ghaani.
Khamenei gave the order at the meeting, according to three Iranian officials – including two members of the IRGC – briefed on the order.
Iran and Hamas accused Israel over the assassination of Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iranian officials are in “utter shock” over the assassination, sources told NYT journalist Farnaz Fassihi, “because it also delivers a huge blow to Iran’s security reputation at a time it wants to project power in the region.”
Pentagon and US officials were also surprised by Haniyeh’s elimination, and especially that it had taken place in Tehran, the Times reported.
While the location of the strike forces the Iranian regime to respond, according to the report, a senior US military official said that despite the security embarrassment Iran may not want to start an all-out war with Israel.
