On Thursday, March 9, 2023, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made a joint statement with his Israeli counterpart, Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, following their meeting at Ben Gurion International Airport. During the press conference, Secretary Austin reiterated America’s commitment to defending Israel in the event of an attack, stating, “If Israel is attacked, we certainly will help defend Israel.” This comes on the heels of the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which has sparked tensions between Iran and Israel.
In response to the killing, multiple Iranian officials have stated that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ordered retaliation against Israel for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Iranian soil. This has led to concerns of a major regional conflagration and prompted Russia to warn that the situation could lead to “global conflict.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement placing partial responsibility on the US for supporting the Israeli regime, which they claim is responsible for the assassination of Haniyeh. While there is no concrete evidence linking the US directly to the attack, Iranian officials believe that Washington played a role in authorizing and providing intelligence support for the operation.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken denied any American involvement in the attack on Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, stating that it was “something we were not aware of or involved in.” Despite these assurances, tensions remain high between Iran and Israel, with the potential for further escalation looming over the region.
As the situation unfolds, the UN has been called upon to hold an emergency meeting over the assassination of Haniyeh, while the body count from a recent Israeli strike on Hezbollah’s military commander Fuad Shukr continues to rise in Beirut.