Israel assassinated Hamas' top leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran last summer, Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed. The comments by Katz appeared to mark the first time that Israel has acknowledged killing Haniyeh, who died in an explosion in Tehran in July.

Since launching its retaliatory war in Gaza, Israel claims to have eliminated the leaders of militant groups including, Sinwar, the mastermind of the 7 October attack on Israel, and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an airstrike on a building complex in Beirut.

Hassan Nasrallah meanwhile was the leader of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah - he was assassinated in Beirut in September as Israel dramatically escalated its military campaign against Hezbollah, with which it had been trading near daily cross-border fire since the day after the 7 October attacks.

Israel Katz admitted for the first time publicly to Israel's killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July, further risking tensions in the region.

Israel confirmed Monday that it assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and issued a stark warning to the leadership of Yemen’s Houthi group, threatening similar action.

Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday confirmed Israel’s role in killing Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July. This is the first time Israel confessed to assassinating the Hamas leader. The confession may further trigger tension in the Middle East.

Israel’s defense minister has confirmed that Israel assassinated Hamas’ top leader last summer and is planning to take similar action against the leadership of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen.

The elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was an Israeli operation. It took place in Tehran in the summer, stated Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to The Times of Israel. Katz addressed the Yemeni Houthis targeting Israeli territory with missiles.

Israel has, for the first time, openly acknowledged its role in the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran this past July. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz disclosed this while issuing a warning to the Houthis regarding their recent attacks,

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has confirmed, for the first time, that Israel assassinated Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

THERAN (AFP) - Iran on Tuesday (Dec 24) denounced what it termed Israel's "brazen admission" of having killed former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this year, accusing the country of having carried out a "heinous crime" and defending its missile-strike response.