The spectacular assassination of Hamas head Ismail Haniyeh in the middle of a Tehran night was a way to remind Israel’s enemies — and its friends, too — of some home truths. The IAF planes flew one thousand miles from their air base in Israel to Tehran, and one thousand miles back. They managed this while flying over the enemy territory of Syria, Iraq, and Iran; the strike was so precise that it killed only Haniyeh and one bodyguard. I experienced a mix of emotions that I’m sure you, too, shared: wonderment at Israel’s intelligence feat and its operational brilliance, gratitude that the IAF has made not just Israel but the entire Western world safer after this killing of the malevolent head of a terror group. More on the multifarious “messaging” that this removal of Ismail Haniyeh sends to Israel’s enemies in the Middle East can be found here: “The messages Israel is sending to its enemies,” Elder of Ziyon, July 31, 2024:
The apparent Israeli assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah’s top military leader Fu’ad Shukr must be viewed on two levels.
One is, obviously, to cause the death of the leader of Hamas, ultimately responsible for the massacres and rapes and kidnappings of October 7.
But no less important is the messaging this assassination sends to Israel’s enemies in the region.
1. No one who harms Jews and Israelis is safe from retaliation anywhere in the world.
Chances are Israel did not plan to kill both Haniyeh and Fu’ad Shukr within 12 hours of each other in two separate capitals, but that message is unmistakable. Anyone who attacks Israel is subject to attack themselves, no matter where they are.
They may be relatively safe in Turkey and Qatar for now, but even the leaders trying to take refuge in those places have to look over their shoulders. Every hour they spend on protecting themselves is an hour that they are not plotting to kill Jews.
2. Israeli intelligence is even better than they think.
And this has an important corollary: terrorist leaders cannot trust even their own top advisers.
Israel seems to know exactly who is where, and not only in Gaza but everywhere. Signals intelligence only goes so far – Israel has spies on the ground who have infiltrated the highest levels of terror groups and enemy states. When the leaders cannot trust their own people, they cannot get anything done.
3. Israel is no longer frightened of international reactions, not anymore. Not even from allies.
October 7 changed the rules against Israel, so it also changed the rules for Israel. Despite massive international pressure, both public and private, both from Israel’s enemies and friends, Israel is not letting up.
Part of Hamas’ calculus behind October 7 was that world pressure would force Israel to stop fighting and keep Hamas in power, as it did on previous wars. But the old rules no longer apply. And it was Hamas that changed the rules, not Israel….
By killing Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in such spectacular fashion, as well as killing within the same day Hezbollah’s military chief Fu’ad Shukr, Israel has now sent a half-dozen messages — described just above with the rest here — to both its friends and enemies. It will not be held back, either by its enemies’ threats, or by its American ally urging “restraint.” The IDF can locate, and kill, leaders of both Hamas and Hezbollah with pinpoint precision. Hamas and Hezbollah wanted wars with the Jewish state on their terms. Israel is not going to oblige. It’s a guerre à outrance; Hamas has been badly battered, and soon it will be Hezbollah’s turn.
Walter Sieruk says
The use of the power of a strong and powerful military might is the only lanuage those those in power in that hostie and vicious Islamic regime will be able to understand.
As Thomas Jefferson had so rightly and wisely declared “With every barbarous people…force is law.”
Taffy says
Carl von Clauswitz’s ON War expresses a similar sentiment, that effective diplomacy requires a military to back it up and make it effective.
gravenimage says
So true, Walter.
somehistory says
And in the news today; “Hamas commander Mohammed Deif has been assassinated in an airstrike”
“Hamas commander Mohammed Deif (pictured left) has been assassinated in an airstrike, the Israeli military revealed today, a day after group leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran. ‘IDF fighter jets struck in the area of Khan Yunis, and following an intelligence assessment, it can be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eliminated in the strike,’ the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement today.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hamas-commander-mohammed-deif-has-been-assassinated-in-an-airstrike/ss-BB1r1ssE#image=1
gravenimage says
+1
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Somehistory
They released that news today, but he was actually killed on July 14th, or thereabouts. It’s just that they confirmed/made it official today
somehistory says
Yes, Infidel, I read that in the full report; but as you say, they put it on the news feed just today.
rick says
I think the Hamas big wig Haniyeh was killed by a drone. Was the military drone smuggled into Iran? Probably. I do not think IAF planes did the killing. That will come if a real war breaks out between Iran and Israel and that is the time Israel will destroy military sites in Iran by various means including the IAF targeting Iran’s nuclear production.
Hugh Fitzgerald says
It was first believed that he had been killed by a missile fired from a plane. But the real story is that he died when a bomb that had been planted two months ago exploded, killing Haniyeh and a guard. How that explosive device was smuggled into a well-guarded guesthouse, where it was hidden so that when the Iranians swept the room for such weapons they did not locate it, and how the explosive was detonated from perhaps a thousand miles away, in Israel, are all questions that remain.
gravenimage says
Thank you, Hugh.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Hugh
I don’t believe that Israel did the Haniyeh killing, or they would have triumphantly said it, just like they announced their success in slaying Fa’ud Shukr or Mohammed Dief. Chances are that it could be an internal rivalry within Hamas, or one of their other rivals – Islamic Jihad or Fatah – who pulled it off
Sanjay Tandon says
Well done Israel, too good its time to celebrate but just wondering when Israeli intelligence is so well equipped why are they not able to rescue the hostages held by these stone age barbarians for such a long time.
Ian says
For several reasons…
Gaza is unlike any place that exists in the world.
Hamas polices Gaza by fear and the penalty of death,
Gaza is much more difficult to infiltrate than other countries such as Iran, Iraq, or Lebanon and set up a spy network.
The hostages are constantly kept on the move
There are more miles of tunnels under Gaza than in the London Underground and very few people know the locations of every tunnel
so, that’s why and I am sure there are other reasons…
gravenimage says
Sadly agree, Ian.
Scooby doo says
@Mr. Fitzgerald:
I’m afraid you’re a bit off, sir, since it would appear that the explosive device has been planted where it exploded some 2 months ago. Besides, I understand that there are missiles that can actually fly around for some time, during all sorts of checks and stuff, but 2 months?
Someone somewhere remarked that this execution also serves as a solid warning to khamenei. He too can be blown to smithereens just like that. I dare say, that would be a true blessing.
And now for yahyah sinwar. Go Benji! Kick ass!
Hugh Fitzgerald says
Yes, I learned the truth this morning after I. wrote the piece See my reply to the comment by rick just above..
Bull Herman says
So many terrorists killed. From “Cutlet” Suliemani to Ismail “Now Part Of The Wall” Haniyah.
Each culling a reason to celebrate life over death.
But Muslims will claim each gets 72 virgins…How does that work?
Well, good ol’ Ismail discovered he’s one of Cutlet’s virgins…
Bet every known terrorist commander hires a lacky to blow out his birthday candles this year.
Israel performs the ultimate “reach out and touch” someone.
I don’t care how it’s done.
And I’m amused watching Tehran scramble and cover. As for their planned retaliatory strike? Here’s a snippet of that meeting… “You Abdul, go personally and give the order to attack Israel so the nasty Mossad can’t know it in advance.” “Ok I’ll assign my lieutenant to do it.” And the lieutenant? He just decided an early retirement was in order.
deze MN bee says
Many theories to cover the embarassing reality: In Tehran, after eating enough for ten people, a fat guest of the Iranians exploded, blowing of the toilet door which in turn knocked out his body guard.
Mike says
Deze: HA HA!! That sounds like the glutton Mr. Creosote at the French restaurant, in the Monty Python movie “The Meaning of Life”! (That scene is also on youtube, I believe).
Cato the Elder says
A state’s No. 1 responsibility is to its people and their property. Popular opinion does not matter in this equation, you have to do what you have to do. It’s also a good lesson for terrorists, although I’m not sure they are up to learning anything.
That said, Fu’ad Shukr just recently changed his name to Fu’cd Fersur.
Nick says
Haha! Classic!
gravenimage says
Israel Sends Its Enemies A Half-Dozen Messages
………………………………
Hear, hear, Israel! Fine piece from Hugh Fitzgerald.
dumbledoresarmy says
It occurs to me to wonder just WHAT exactly the Israelis have dug up in the course of digging up tunnel after tunnel in Gaza.
For example, in Jerusalem Post, on 21 July 2024 (though I actually think nothing whatsoever should have been said about it), it was reported that the IDF had uncovered a ‘treasure trove of Hamas intelligence’ including ‘stacks of documents, files and computers’.
Even when Hamasniks have tried to destroy materials – whether digital or on-paper – the Israelis have often been able to piece them back together…
The Israelis – even though initially blindsided by Hamas’ deceptive tactics in the lead-up to October 7 2023 – are now catching up, FAST. And they are applying their formidable skills of analysis to all the bits and pieces of information they’re digging up here there and everywhere in Gaza…
though… to repeat.. I do not think they should have said ANYTHING in public about exactly what it was that they found; they should have left Hamas and Hamas’ supporters to fret and wonder and worry.
I would have excepted only this: for the instruction of all the Useful Idiots in the western world who are forever wailing and weeping over the ‘innocent children’ of Gaza, the Israelis could have provided the information that in Gaza they found “children’s books teaching how to murder Jews by running them over or stabbing them”. Copies of those books (and perhaps also a statement as to just how MANY of these books were found, and in what settings?) could profitably have been sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to the Pope, with a covering note: “THIS is what children are given to read in Gaza”.
Rick Gordon says
Bravo! An evil human met his appropriate fate.