‘Humiliating’, ‘Incompetent’ – experts comment on Iran’s security force amidst Hamas Chief assassination reports

Israel’s premier spy agency, Mossad, hired agents from within Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to plant bombs in three rooms in Tehran’s guesthouse where Hamas Chief Haniyeh was staying.

According to a Saturday article in The Telegraph, two Iranian officials have stated that the original plot to assassinate Haniyeh was hatched two months ago. Originally, the goal was to kill the Palestinian terror chief during his visit in Tehran for the funeral of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. However, the plan was abandoned, and they chose to detonate explosives inside the guesthouse in Tehran.

“They are now certain that the Mossad hired agents from the Ansar al-Mahdi protection unit. Upon further investigation, they discovered additional explosive devices in two other rooms,” according to an IRGC official as cited by the magazine.

Another IRGC officer told the publication, “It is a huge security breach and a humiliation for Iran.” The IRGC-managed hotel in Tehran is located in a well-heeled neighborhood, where Haniyeh and other dignitaries were lodging.

Officially, both Iranian and Hamas authorities claim Haniyeh was killed in an aerial strike launched from outside the nation. However, when questioned about the incident, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stated that Israel did not conduct any airstrikes between Tuesday and Wednesday, except for the assassination of Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

Expert Analysis

According to Janatan Sayeh, a research analyst at FDD (Foundation for Defense of Democracies), “Haniyeh’s death will serve as a reminder for the regime in Tehran of the humiliating security lapses within its critical institutions, particularly the IRGC intelligence and the Ministry of Intelligence.”

“Once again. Iran’s security services have proven themselves to be agents of domestic repression more than anything else. A report bomb placed where a leader of the regime’s Axis of Resistance was staying shows not only incompetence and the potential for coordination by disgruntled security elements with Israel, but also underscores the comment made by a former Israeli intelligence minister who said officials in Iran should fear for their lives,” stated FDD Senior Fellow, Benham Ben Taleblu.

Iran’s Response to Israel

Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ordered a direct strike on Israel to avenge the assassination of Hamas Chief Haniyeh. He further warned that Israel has “prepared a harsh punishment for itself.”

Hezbollah and Hamas have also vowed to exact revenge on Israel in retaliation to the murder of Ismail Haniyeh.

Israel Prepares for Attack

As Israel braced for a response to Haniyeh’s assassination, the IDF on Thursday evening stated that it was on “high alert” and ready for any threats.

Furthermore, on his visit to an Arrow air defense site on July 31, the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated, “We don’t want war, but we are preparing for all possibilities.”

As a result, the White House declared its support for Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration to be “ironclad” and dispatched fighter jets and warships into the area to defend Israel.