More than 24 people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the assassination of Hamas chief in Iran

Last Updated on August 5, 2024 9:07 am

Iran has arrested more than 24 people, including security and intelligence officials, after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Palestinian independence group Hamas, in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

Iran International reported this information in a report on Sunday (August 4).

According to reports, the assassination occurred despite tight security at the inauguration of President Massoud Pezheshkian, which is believed to be a serious security breach. Because of this they were arrested.

It is also believed to be an inside job.

According to a report in the New York Times, more than 24 people, including senior intelligence officers, military officers and guesthouse employees, have been arrested for their involvement in the incident.

The Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) special intelligence unit is now leading the investigation. The New York Times reports that it has been tasked with identifying those responsible.

Iranian authorities have yet to confirm any arrests in connection with the murder.

Director of the International Crisis Group on Iran spoke to the New York Times. He said, “The perception that Iran cannot protect its motherland or its key allies could be fatal for the Iranian regime.” Because it is signaling to their enemies that if they can’t topple the Islamic Republic, they can behead it.’

The incident unfolds against the backdrop of a long secret war between Iran and Israel. whose aim is assassination and sabotage. Iranian officials and Hamas have accused Israel of planning the attack. On the other hand, Israel has been keeping silent on this issue. Neither confirmed nor denied involvement with it.

“Haniyeh was killed by a short-range projectile with a warhead of approximately 7 kilograms in Tehran,” the IRGC said on Saturday. “The move was planned and executed by the Zionists and was assisted by the US,” the IRGC added.

Ahmad Bakhshaesh Ardastani, a member of Iran’s parliament’s National Security Commission, confirmed on Saturday that there are gaps and failures in the Islamic Republic’s security and intelligence systems. He outlined two possible scenarios regarding Hania’s death.

One is that the Israelis used a drone to target the location from a mountain north of Tehran. Second, drones were not used in the assassination but several infiltrators were stationed inside Iran. They were the ones who used a missile-like weapon to attack near the mountain and Haniya’s residence.

According to Western media reports, Haniyeh was killed by a pre-arranged bomb device in his room. This was probably done by agents hired by Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad.

According to a report in The Telegraph, the devices were placed in three separate rooms of the guesthouse and were done carefully and systematically. Last May, there was a plan to kill Haniya during the funeral of former Iranian president Ibrahim Raisi. But then the operation was canceled due to huge crowd inside the building. Because it was more likely that the campaign failed.

Farzin Nadimi, a senior analyst at the Washington Institute and an expert on Iranian defense and security in the Persian Gulf region, questioned the possibility of a bombing. He told Iran International, “Israel has the ability to carry out such bombings.”

But according to the news, Haniyah was staying in a hotel until the day and night of the incident. It was not certain where he would stay. So it can be said, could this explosion have been carried out to get the bomb a few months ago?’ Nadimi also said that it would have been easiest to target Haniyah with a projectile.

The incident not only embarrassed Iran’s leadership but exposed the weaknesses of the country’s security system. The IRGC now faces an unprecedented challenge in regaining control and resistance. Although it is still not entirely clear how Haniya was killed, the incident has caused great embarrassment for the IRGC.