Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard has warned that Israel will face a “harsh and painful response” from Iran and its regional allies following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. An emergency meeting by an influential Iranian parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy is scheduled for later Wednesday to address the situation.
Hamas’ military wing stated that Haniyeh’s assassination “takes the battle to new dimensions and will have significant repercussions throughout the region.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to persist with the devastating campaign in Gaza until Hamas is fully dismantled. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli bombardments have resulted in over 39,360 Palestinian deaths and more than 90,900 injuries, though the figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Despite the intense bombardment, Hamas remains capable of conducting operations and launching rockets into Israel. However, it remains uncertain whether Hamas can escalate its retaliation following Haniyeh’s death.
The broader impact might be regional. Iran could intensify attacks through its allies, part of the “Axis of Resistance,” which includes Hezbollah, Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Hezbollah has been involved in daily exchanges of fire with Israel along the Israeli-Lebanese border, while the Houthis and other militias have targeted Israeli and American bases, though most attacks have been intercepted.
A strike on Tuesday night southwest of Baghdad killed four members of the Iranian-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah, which has previously targeted U.S. bases. Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces accused the U.S. of carrying out the strike.
A U.S. defense official confirmed that a “defensive airstrike” was executed in response to threats posed by combatants planning an attack, based on recent incidents in Iraq and Syria.
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