PENTAGON SHOCKED

NYT: Top Pentagon, US military officials stunned by Haniyeh assassination

Recent assassinations of high-profile figures in Hamas and Hezbollah raise concerns among US officials about escalating tensions in the region.

 

By Adi Nirman  

 

JNS

Aug 1, 2024 

 

 

Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder at a Pentagon press briefing, November 1, 2022 

 

The New York Times reported that the Biden administration was not informed in advance of the operation targeting Haniyeh. Top Pentagon and military officials were reportedly stunned by the assassination, particularly its execution in the Iranian capital. A senior US military officer, speaking anonymously to The New York Times, suggested that while Iran may be embarrassed by the security lapse, it might also be hesitant to engage in full-scale war with Israel.

Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas based in Qatar, was killed in an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps guesthouse in Tehran. This assassination came shortly after a strike in a Beirut suburb eliminated Fuad Shukr, a Hezbollah commander, in what Israel publicly claimed as retaliation for an attack that killed 12 children and teenagers in Majdal Shams in northern Israel.

John F. Kirby, a national security spokesman for the White House, acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, stating to The New York Times, "These reports over the last 24, 48 hours, certainly don't help with the temperature going down."

US officials have been actively engaging with counterparts across the region, including Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, in an effort to prevent further escalation. Despite the recent violence, the administration remains committed to pursuing a ceasefire, with negotiation teams continuing their efforts in various locations.

Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told The New York Times that these targeted assassinations align with the Biden administration's pressure on Israel to favor precise strikes against Hamas leaders over large-scale military operations that risk civilian casualties. "In a certain way, this is exactly what the US has been urging Israel to do," Satloff said.

Within Hamas, the elimination of Haniyeh may have complex implications. Yahya Sinwar, the group's commander believed to be in Gaza, has been the major decision-maker in ceasefire talks. Analysts cited by The New York Times suggest that while Sinwar and Haniyeh were seen as antagonists, Sinwar may feel compelled to resist immediate deal-making.