Tehran, Iran

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday (July 31) issued an order to strike Israel. The Iranian Supreme leader, as per reports, issued the order as retaliation for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Iran while on his visit for the inauguration of the new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

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In his public statement, Khamenei proclaimed "we see avenging his blood our duty," as the assassination happened on Iran's territory. Other Iranian leaders, including Pezeshkian, have also openly stated that the nation has a right to defend itself against a transgression on its sovereignty.

Also read | Global community reacts to Ismail Haniyeh's assassination, Hamas vows it 'will not go unanswered'

Revenge for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh

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The New York Times citing three Iranian officials briefed that the order was issued at an emergency meeting of Iran's Supreme National Security Council. The order came on Wednesday morning, shortly after the nation announced that Haniyeh had been killed.

Iran has accused Israel of the assassination, a claim that Tel Aviv has neither accepted nor denied. 

Also read | Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in a ' treacherous Zionist raid' in Tehran: IRGC confirms fatal attack

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Israel and attacks on Iran

Israel, as per the report, has a long history of killing enemies, including Iranian nuclear scientists and military commanders abroad.

Throughout the 10 months of the ongoing war in Gaza, Iran has tried to avoid an all-out war while putting pressure on Israel through various means. 

However, in April, after decades of hostility, Iran launch a big, overt attack on Israel, launching hundreds of missiles and drones. The attack was in retaliation of an Israeli attack on Iran's embassy compound in Damascus, Syria. Several Iranian military commanders were killed in the attack.

Iran's attack as per NYT did not do much damage as most of the weapons were shot down by Israel and its allies.

(With inputs from agencies)