An attempted assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Hamiyeh by Israel on July 31 was almost thwarted by a malfunctioning air conditioning unit, a recent Channel 12 report has disclosed. The operation in Tehran faced a last-minute obstacle when Haniyeh left his room to address the issue, sparking concerns that he might be relocated and disrupt the mission.
Haniyeh’s name rose to the top of Israel’s target list following the events of October 7, 2023. While he primarily resided in Qatar, eliminating him there could have jeopardized ongoing hostage negotiations facilitated by Doha. After contemplating various locations such as Turkey, Moscow, and Tehran, Israel ultimately selected Tehran as the most suitable site for the operation.
During his visits, Haniyeh often stayed at an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) guesthouse in the affluent Sa’adat Abad neighborhood in northern Tehran. Despite stringent IRGC security measures, Israeli intelligence managed to infiltrate deeply to orchestrate the attack.
The original plan was to target Haniyeh during his attendance at the funeral of former Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi in May. However, due to other considerations, the mission was postponed. Israel resumed its plans when Haniyeh returned for the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The operation involved planting an improvised explosive device (IED) in Haniyeh’s room. However, just before the planned detonation, the air conditioning unit in the room malfunctioned. As Haniyeh stepped out to seek assistance, Israeli operatives feared he might be relocated to another room, jeopardizing months of meticulous preparation. After a tense period, the AC unit was repaired, and Haniyeh returned.
At 1:30 am, the IED was triggered, resulting in Haniyeh’s immediate demise and causing a commotion within the IRGC compound. Haniyeh’s deputy, Khalil al-Hayya, was reportedly devastated upon discovering the lifeless body of the Hamas leader.
The assassination incident embarrassed Iran, prompting panic within the IRGC. The head of the elite Quds Force, Esmail Qaani, briefly disappeared as authorities probed the security breach. Initially, Qaani informed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that Haniyeh had been killed in a missile strike, but the truth – a bomb – was soon revealed.
Iran delayed its retaliation until October 1, when it launched a missile assault against Israel. However, the offensive was largely thwarted by Israeli, US, and Jordanian forces.
Following Haniyeh’s demise, Yahya Sinwar assumed the position of Hamas politburo chief. Sinwar’s leadership was short-lived, as he was later killed by Israeli forces in Gaza on October 16.
