Iran Raises Red Flag of Revenge, Supreme Leader Vows 'Severe Punishment' [VIDEOS]

following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in TehranIranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei wasted no time in pointing the finger.

Khamenei declared Iran's unequivocal duty to seek revenge against what he called the “criminal and terrorist Zionist regime” for the attack.

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“The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our beloved guest in our home and made us sad, but it also prepared a harsh punishment for itself,” Khamenei said on his website.

Apparently glorifying the fallen Haniyeh, he declared: “Martyr Haniyeh was willing to sacrifice his honorable life in this worthy battle for many years. He was ready for martyrdom and had sacrificed his sons and loved ones on this path.”

News of his death has plunged Iran into mourning, with three days of somber observance announced by the Iranian government.

BREAKING;

Iran raised the red flag of revenge on the dome of the Jamkaran Mosque. pic.twitter.com/8oM5pYC8s4

— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) July 31, 2024

In response to the incident, Israel has remained silent, in keeping with its usual approach of neither confirming nor denying activities carried out by its Mossad intelligence agency.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a security briefing with top defense officials to assess the situation and has directed enhanced security measures for Jewish institutions around the world.

Meanwhile, the United States has stepped in, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressing a willingness to mediate tensions while reaffirming America's commitment to support Israel in the face of any aggression.

“If Israel is attacked, yes, we will help Israel defend itself. We have been clear from the beginning.”@SecDef Lloyd Austin discusses whether the US will help defend Israel from Hezbollah. pic.twitter.com/N7VPlM8h7l

— Jewish Insider (@J_Insider) July 30, 2024

Separately, a Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, denounced the assassination as a desperate ploy by Israel, aimed at weakening Hamas and its resolve, but vowed that the attempt would ultimately prove futile.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri formally announced the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, saying it would “not break” his will.
He added that the movement has persisted despite Israel having killed many of its top leaders in the past pic.twitter.com/9dF4dvl9Tn

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) July 31, 2024