The Murder Of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh In Tehran Almost Failed Because AC Was Damaged

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei while leading the funeral prayers of the late Ismail Haniyeh and his bodyguards in Tehran. (Source: Khamenei.ir)

Israel's plan to kill Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran almost failed when the air conditioner in his place spent the night was damaged, after an agent planted a homemade explosive near his bed, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

The late leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack on his place of night in Tehran on July 31, after attending the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian the day before.

Channel 12 at the weekend detailed the assassination operation targeting Haniyeh, days after Israeli Defense Minister Katz confirmed Israel was behind Haniyeh's death, quoted from The Times of Israel Dec. 30.

Israel's decision to kill Haniyeh comes shortly after October 7, 2023, when the Hamas leader was placed somewhere at the top of the list compiled by senior intelligence officials. It's just a matter of time, said Channel 12.

Haniyeh is the head of the Qatar-based Hamas political bureau, although not infrequently he left the country. However, killing Haniyeh in the country has the potential to thwart negotiations on the hostage-taking mediated by Doha since the latest conflict broke out on October 7, 2023.

The choice of a place to kill Haniyeh fell on Turkey, Russia, and Iran, three countries that the late Haniyeh often visited.

However, concerns about a strong reaction to the anger of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin have made Iran the most appropriate choice, the network said.

The fact that Haniyeh has repeatedly stayed at the same IRGC guest guesthouse in the luxury neighborhood of Sa'adat Century, northern Tehran makes the operation easier to plan.

However, he was kept as an honorary guest by the IRGC's highest personal security team, which required deep levels of infiltration to carry out the murder.

Israeli agencies also closed ranks to launch this plan, given that a number of plans to kill high-ranking Hamas officials by Israel have failed in recent decades.

According to foreign media reports, Israel's original plan was to kill Haniyeh when he came to Tehran to attend the funeral of the late Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash on May 19.

It was postponed for more than two months, before Haniyeh returned to visit Tehran to attend President Masoud Pezeshkian's inauguration. There are proposals to continue operations the night before the inauguration, but a decision was taken to wait until after the ceremony, the TV report said.

Shortly before the ceremony, the agent installed a homemade explosive device near his bed in Haniyeh's room. The IED was slightly bigger than Israel had planned, but it wasn't big enough to injure those in the next room. However, there is still enough material in the bomb to make sure Haniyeh will be killed on the spot, said Channel 12.

Citing a source familiar with the plan, Haniyeh's murder operation almost failed, because shortly before the planned explosion, the AC unit in Haniyeh's room was damaged.

The Hamas leader left his room for help. Haniyeh left long to worry about Israel if the Hamas leader was transferred to another room and the murder operation failed.

After some time, the AC unit was repaired. Haniyeh returned to his room. At around 1:30 a.m., the IED was detonated, burst into the outside wall of Haniyeh's living room and shook the entire IRGC complex.

Within seconds, the IRGC first aid team at the location arrived at Haniyeh's room. Deputy Haniyeh, Khalil al-Hayya, arrived next and fell on his knees crying after seeing the body of the bloodied Hamas leader, according to Channel 12.

Analysts speaking with the network said the operation was too complicated to be carried out by Israeli agents alone, explaining Iranian citizens, IRGC members, or Hamas officials must have been involved. The three options must have been investigated by Hamas and Iranian authorities, Channel 12.

Hours after the incident, the Head of the Quds Forces, Iran Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) elite unit Brigadier General Esmail Qani called Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and said Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli attack. Khamenei immediately ordered Iran to retaliate against Israel's actions.

Two months later, Iran retaliated against Israel with a missile strike on October 1.

Hamas himself then appointed Yahya Sinwar as Head of the Political Bureau replacing the late Haniyeh. Sinwar soon assumed his position, after dying from an Israeli attack on Rafah on October 16.