Explosions in Babylon Governorate, Iraq:
– Reports indicate multiple explosions occurred in the Babylon Governorate of Iraq, targeting the headquarters of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
– According to AlArabiya, four blasts were reported in Jurf al-Nasr, a location associated with PMF militants.
Casualties in Jurf al-Nasr:
– An explosion at a base used by PMF militants south of Baghdad resulted in the death of one member and injuries to seven others, as confirmed by police and medical sources, according to Reuters.
US Military Actions in the Red Sea:
– US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its forces successfully destroyed three Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) in the Red Sea over the past 24 hours.
US Airstrike in Iraq:
– An airstrike conducted by the US military targeted combatants in Iraq who were attempting to launch one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). This action was taken due to the perceived threat these systems posed to US and Coalition forces, as reported by Al-Arabiya.
Death of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh:
– Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of Hamas, and one of his bodyguards were killed after an attack on their residence in Tehran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the incident, stating it occurred early Wednesday and is under investigation.
– Prior to his death, Haniyeh had attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president and met with Iran’s Supreme Leader. The IRGC expressed condolences to Palestinians, the Muslim world, and the Iran-led Resistance Front following the incident.
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Hamas has claimed that an “Israeli” attack killed their leader, Ismail Haniyeh, at his residence in Tehran.
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Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen channel, which is aligned with the pro-Iranian camp, cites an Iranian source claiming that Haniyeh was killed by “a missile fired from a foreign country, rather than from within Iran.”
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Nournews, linked to Iran’s leading security organization, reports that Haniyeh’s assassination was a risky move intended to weaken Tehran’s deterrence. Violating Iran’s red lines has consistently proven costly for adversaries.
Former Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Rezaie stated that “Israel will face severe consequences for the killing of Hamas leader Haniyeh,” according to Iranian state media.
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U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that if Israel is attacked, the U.S. will help it defend itself.
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Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that Israel has set the stage for severe retribution by assassinating Haniyeh. He declared that it is Iran’s responsibility to avenge Haniyeh’s death, as he was killed on Iranian soil.
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The Israeli Aviation Authority has announced the suspension of all flights arriving in and departing from Israel until midnight tonight, with further evaluations to determine the situation.
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Israel is restocking food and medicine in bunkers throughout the Gush Dan (Tel Aviv-Yafa) metropolitan area to prepare for the possibility that people may need to stay in these bunkers for extended periods.
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Iran has raised a red flag at Jamkaran Mosque to signal revenge after the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Wednesday that the United States neither participated in nor was aware of the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Blinken mentioned during an interview with Channel News Asia, while he was visiting Singapore, that the U.S. had no knowledge or involvement in the incident. He added that it is challenging to speculate on the possible consequences.
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A senior Iranian source claims that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed at the Sa’adabad Complex, Iran’s presidential compound. This would be particularly embarrassing for Iranian authorities, given the presence of other high-profile visitors. The source also suspects that Haniyeh’s own Palestinian bodyguards might have been involved in the assassination. Early assessments suggest the use of a small quadcopter for the attack, though alternative theories propose a long-range missile or a precision airstrike, potentially from a neighboring country.
Israel’s Foreign Minister: The only way to avert a full-scale war with Hezbollah is to implement U.N. Resolution 1701 immediately.
U.N. Resolution 1701 calls for ending hostilities, deploying peacekeepers, and disarming Hezbollah.
The Israeli government spokesman has stated that the country is on extremely high alert for possible retaliation from Iran, as reported by Reuters.
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Iran’s UN Mission has stated that Iran will retaliate for Haniyeh’s assassination with targeted operations designed to induce regret.
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The Israeli Prime Minister will make a televised statement on Wednesday at 20:10 (1700 GMT) from the defense ministry, according to his office.
Hamas official al-Hayya reports that “a missile directly hit Haniyeh in his room” in Tehran, Iran.
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The funeral for Hamas Chief Political Officer Ismail Haniyeh, killed by an Israeli missile strike in Tehran, is currently taking place at the University of Tehran. Senior Iranian officials and members of the “Axis of Resistance” are in attendance.
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Washington Post reports that the U.S. has dispatched 12 warships to the Middle East due to escalating tensions.
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Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by an explosive device that was smuggled into the Tehran guesthouse where he was staying, according to reports from seven Middle Eastern officials, including two Iranians, and an American official, as reported by the NYT.
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