Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has publicly confirmed for the first time that Israel was responsible for the death of Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran last July.

In a recent speech, Katz pledged to target the leadership of the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, which has been launching missiles and drones at Israel.

Katz declared that Israel would “strike hard” against the Houthis and “decapitate” their leadership.

He stated, “Just as we did with Haniyeh, [Yahya] Sinwar, and [Hassan] Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon, we will do the same in Hodeida and Sanaa,” referencing the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas who have been killed this year.

“Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off, and the long arm of the IDF [Israeli military] will strike him and hold him accountable,” Katz said.

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Killing of Hamas chief in Iran stirs fears of retaliation

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have fired numerous missiles and drones at Israel during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, calling these attacks acts of solidarity with the Palestinians. On Saturday, one missile struck Tel Aviv, injuring at least 16 individuals.

On 27 September, Israel killed Nasrallah in a Beirut bombing. Haniyeh was killed in a building where he was staying in the Iranian capital in an attack widely attributed to Israel.