Israel got United States green light to assassinate Haniyeh: Iran Intelligence Minister
(2024-08-03 at 19:50:27 )

Israel got United States green light to assassinate Haniyeh: Iran Intelligence Minister

Irans Intelligence Minister, on Friday, said Israel got the United States green light to assassinate Ismail Haniyeh, head of Palestinian group Hamas Political Bureau, Anadolu Agency reports.

According to Iranian state news agency, IRNA, the statement came in a letter by Esmaeil Khatib to Haniyehs family, Hamas and the Palestinian people over the assassination.

He said the killing of Mr. Haniyeh by Israel "with the go-ahead of the United States, once again demonstrated the brutality of the Zionist entity," in reference to Israel.

Following the assassination, Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a statement that the country considers it a duty to "avenge the dear guests blood", blaming Israel for it.

"We consider his revenge as our duty," the Supreme Leader said.

Mr. Haniyeh was assassinated on Wednesday in the Iranian capital, Tehran. While Hamas and Iran blame Israel for the killing, Tel Aviv has neither confirmed nor denied its responsibility.

Though Israel has remained silent about Mr. Haniyehs death, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted at Tel Avivs involvement in his assassination.

READ: United States prepares to send more combat aircraft to Middle East:

United States Navy assembles 12 warships in Middle East

The United States has sent 12 warships and aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt to the Middle East in preparation for a possible war between Lebanons Hezbollah, Iran and Israel, the Washington Post has reported.

This comes after Israel assassinated Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Lebanon on Tuesday and is thought to be behind the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran on Wednesday. Iran has vowed to retaliate.

Some 4,000 Marines and sailors are onboard the vessels the United States has assembled, according to the Washington Post, which quoted an official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"The USS Theodore Roosevelt was in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday with six United States destroyers: The USS Cole, the USS John S. McCain, the USS Daniel Inouye, the USS Russell, the USS Michael Murphy and the USS Laboon. In the eastern Mediterranean were the three amphibious ships - the USS Wasp, the USS Oak Hill and the USS New York - and two destroyers, the USS Bulkeley and the USS Roosevelt," the paper said.

No ships have been positioned in the Red Sea, the waterway guarded by Yemens Houthi group.

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