Iran cites Israel’s confession to assassination as justification for October 1 attack

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Tehran, Dec 25 (IANS) Iran’s envoy to the United Nations (UN) has said that Israel’s “clear confession” to assassinating Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil justifies Tehran’s military response against Israel on October 1.

Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the UN, made the remarks in a letter addressed to the UN Security Council while reacting to the confession on Monday by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, in which he admitted for the first time that Israel had assassinated Haniyeh in Tehran, Xinhua news agency cited a report from Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Haniyeh was killed on July 31 along with his bodyguard when their residence in Tehran was attacked. Both Hamas and Iran accused Israel of carrying out the assassination.

On October 1, Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel, describing the attack as a retaliation for the assassinations of key resistance figures, including Haniyeh, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and senior Iranian commander Abbas Nilforoushan.

Speaking at a recent Defence Ministry event, Katz had also issued a warning to Houthi forces in Yemen after their drone attacks, which have been intercepted by Israeli air defence systems.

“We will strike the Houthis hard, target their strategic infrastructure, and decapitate their leaders — just as we did to Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon,” Katz had said.

Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed when their residence was struck in Tehran, according to a statement published on the IRGC’s official news outlet, Sepah News. The statement mentioned that the attack was under investigation, and the results would be announced later.

In a report published on July 31, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency stated that Haniyeh was assassinated around 2 am on July 31 local time after his residence in Tehran was hit by a ‘projectile.’ The Islamic Hamas movement had confirmed the death of its leader, stating that Haniyeh was assassinated in an Israeli attack in Iran.

In a press statement, Hamas had expressed its grief, saying that it “mourns to the Palestinian people, the Arab and Islamic nation, and the free people of the world” following the death of Haniyeh, who had been in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 30. Haniyeh was also expected to discuss with the Iranian president the political and field developments related to the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli military has previously claimed responsibility for killing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in southern Gaza and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahieh.

–IANS

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Sharma emphasised that the ongoing controversy was an attempt to deflect from real issues.

Sharma also trains guns at the BJP’s allegations that Congress is seeking to defame India.

He pointed out that the party was soon to mark the 140th Foundation Day of the Congress, a party he said has always fought for unity and national integrity.

“Congress has always worked to unite the nation, bringing together Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. Look at our sacrifices before and after independence. The BJP, on the other hand, has no legacy to show,” Sharma argued.

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Cong corners MP govt over mounting debt, demands white paper on expenses

Bhopal, Dec 17 (IANS) On the second day of the winter session of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, the Opposition Congress cornered the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the mounting state debt, which has crossed Rs 4 lakh crore.

Congress legislators arrived at the Assembly premises carrying posters highlighting the loan amounts borrowed from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). In a symbolic protest, they also held begging bowls to signify the state’s precarious financial condition.

The Opposition alleged that the BJP government’s “flawed policies” have pushed Madhya Pradesh towards financial distress. They claimed that the ballooning debt burden translates to every citizen of the state being saddled with a debt of Rs 55,000.

“Over the past two months alone, the BJP government in MP has borrowed Rs 7,500 crore. Between 2021 and 2024, the state government secured loans amounting to Rs 1.22 lakh crore from the RBI,” Congress legislators asserted.

Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar demanded that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s government present a white paper in the Assembly, detailing the loan amounts borrowed and their utilization.

“The BJP government is taking loans every three months, yet there’s no visible improvement in the state’s infrastructure. The government must clarify where this borrowed money is being spent,” Singhar said.

He further alleged that a significant portion of the loans is being spent on the BJP government’s publicity campaigns. “We will raise this issue in the House and urge the Speaker to direct the government to furnish a detailed report on the loan expenditures of the past year,” Singhar told IANS.

According to reports, the state has inherited a cumulative debt of over Rs 4 lakh crore, with Rs 7,500 crore borrowed in just the last two months. The BJP has been in power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003, barring an 18-month period when Congress held the reins.

Notably, the winter session of the Assembly began on Monday with massive protests by the Opposition over fertilizer shortages, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House within two hours.

–IANS

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