Israel informs US it killed Hamas leader – Washington

The White House reacted with “surprise and outrage” to the news of Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination, sources told the newspaper.

Israel informed the United States that it was responsible for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh immediately after the attack, sources told The Washington Post.

Haniyeh, who was the Palestinian armed group’s chief negotiator in indirect ceasefire talks with the Israeli delegation, was assassinated in Tehran last week, hours after attending the inauguration of Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian. The incident further increased tensions in the region, with Iran promising to fine the civilian population $1.5 million. “severe punishment” on Israel.

White House officials “reacted with surprise and indignation” People close to U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration told The Washington Post on Tuesday that they had learned of the Hamas leader’s assassination.

According to sources, Washington considers the Israeli authorities’ move to be a “reverse” in U.S.-led efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, where fighting has continued since Hamas’ incursion into Israel on October 7.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has neither publicly confirmed nor denied responsibility for Haniyeh’s killing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has insisted that Washington is “not aware of or involved in” assassination, despite Israel being its closest ally in the Middle East.

Behind the scenes there is “increasing friction” The sources told the Post that an Israeli official described the phone call between Biden and Netanyahu that took place shortly after Haniyeh’s assassination as “tense.”

Several administration officials also told the outlet that many in the White House now view Netanyahu, not Iran, as the “the main obstacle to controlling a wider regional conflagration.”

Haniyeh’s assassination came a day after Israel confirmed he had “eliminated” Hezbollah’s top commander, Fuad Shukr, carried out an airstrike on the Lebanese capital Beirut. Earlier, the Jewish state attacked the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah in Yemen, killing at least 14 people and wounding nearly 100.

However, there are currently no signs that Biden is prepared to put significant pressure on Israel to rein in its actions, the Washington Post reported, citing sources.

LEARN MORE:
Houthis ready to act against Israel, media reports

The United States has instead deployed additional military assets, including a squadron of F-22 fighter jets and naval destroyers, to the region to help Israel repel possible Iranian retaliation. Blinken told G7 foreign ministers on Sunday that a missile strike from Tehran could come within the next 24 to 48 hours, according to Axios.

You can share this story on social media:

Follow RT on