Prepare Retaliatory Against Israel, Iran And Allied Representatives Hold Meetings

UNSPLASH/Akbar ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Iran's top officials will meet representatives of Iran's regional allies from Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.

Iran and allies discussed a potential retaliation against Israel after the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran, five sources told Reuters.

The region faces the risk of widespread conflict between Israel, Iran and representatives of its allies following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday, July 31, including the assassination of senior commander Hezbollah on Tuesday in an Israeli attack on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

Representatives from Iran's allies in Palestine, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as Tehran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iraqi resistance groups will attend a meeting in Tehran, the source said, who declined to be named because of the sensitive issue.

Iran and members of the resistance will conduct a thorough assessment after a meeting in Tehran to find the best and most effective way to retaliate against the Zionist regime (Israel), said a senior Iranian official with direct knowledge of the meeting, Thursday, August 1.

Another Iranian official said the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard will attend.

"How is Iran's response and the resistance group currently being reviewed. This is bound to happen and the Zionist regime (Israel) will certainly regret it," General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran's chief of armed forces staff, told state TV.

Iran and Hamas accused Israel of carrying out the attack that killed Haniyeh hours after he attended the inauguration of Iran's new president in Tehran on Wednesday.

But Israeli officials have not yet claimed responsibility for the attacks that sparked a threat of revenge against Israel and have added to fears the Israeli-Hamas conflict in Gaza will turn into a major war in the Middle East.

Israeli air force commander Tomer Bar, speaking at a military graduation ceremony in Israel on Wednesday, July 31 evening, warned Israel would take action against anyone planning to harm its citizens.

We are also very ready in defense. Hundreds of air defense troops, along with air control personnel, are stationed across the country with the best system, ready to carry out their mission, "said Bar.