In an intelligence-based targeted operation, the IDF eliminated terrorist Mohammed al-Jabari, who was deputy head of weapons production for Islamic Jihad. Al-Jabari was responsible for financing Islamic Jihad’s weapons production infrastructure in northern Gaza, distributing salaries and funds, and was part of efforts to restore Islamic Jihad’s rocket production capabilities and infrastructure. Before the attack, “numerous measures were taken to reduce the risk of harm to civilians, including the use of precision munitions, surveillance, and additional intelligence.” In addition, troops of the 162nd Division are continuing precise, intelligence-based operational activities in the Rafah area. Yesterday, IDF troops eliminated approximately 30 terrorists during close-quarters clashes and airstrikes. A few hours after the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, a series of circumstances have emerged that show how much the head of the jihadist organization trusted in Iranian protection, so much so that a few hours before being assassinated in the Iranian capital he boasted about how safe he was in Tehran, as reported by the Telegraph.
In a video filmed on Tuesday and obtained by MEMBERS, Haniyeh told reporters at an exhibition in Tehran: “I am filled with pride as I walk through this exhibition of civilizations. Moving from one country to another, with Jerusalem at the center – Jerusalem, the pivot of our struggle with the Zionist enterprise. These countries and the people of the Islamic nation see Jerusalem as their first direction of prayer and the place of the Prophet’s Night Journey.” He added: “The message is very clear, human civilizations emerged from this region, these nations and these countries. Today, there is an attempt to create civilizations, but these civilizations are based on killing, bloodshed, plundering other nations’ resources and occupying other people’s lands. These are false civilizations that are not meant to last. The civilization that will last for eternity is this Islamic civilization that is based on the divine Sharia and human values.” This was Haniyeh’s last interview, as he died in an explosion in his room just hours after attending the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
Since the October 7 attacks that killed around 1,200 Israelis, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have eliminated dozens of senior Hamas figures and commanders during their intensified campaign in Gaza. However, Israel has also targeted senior Hamas figures and other allied members of the so-called “axis of resistance” outside Gaza. The recent events mark the latest in a series of at least 34 Israeli strikes that have killed at least 39 high-ranking commanders and members of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Lebanon, Syria and Iran over the past 10 months. US officials told CNN that the US expects that Iranian retaliation for the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh could be similar to the April 13 launch of ballistic missiles and drones into Israel.
Officials indicated that this time the attack could be larger and more complex than the previous one, including the possibility of a coordinated action with Iranian proxies from various directions. The report also noted that the United States believes that this time there is greater concern that U.S. military bases in the region could be among the targets of the attack. CNN reported that President Joe Biden is considering additional defense measures for the United States in the Middle East, in preparation for Iranian retaliation against Israel. Biden said Thursday evening that the elimination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran “did not help facilitate a ceasefire in Gaza.” The US president made the remarks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where he met with prisoners freed by Russia in a prisoner swap. Speaking about his evening conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden said “I had a direct conversation with Netanyahu and encouraged him to quickly reach an agreement on the release of the hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza.”
According to multiple U.S. officials, the Pentagon has discussed with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) what changes to make to the disposition of U.S. forces in the region, but no final decisions had been made as of Thursday afternoon. Officials said an Iranian response could occur in the coming days. The report also noted that a coalition of countries, including Jordan and other Arab states, met in April to share intelligence and intercept the Iranian attack, but officials said it was unclear whether such a coalition could be reconstituted so quickly and whether all countries would be willing to participate again.
