the nerve-wracking wait for the Iranian response –

As Israeli jets fly low over Beirut, breaking the sound barrier, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah reiterates that the Shiite group, along with Iran and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, “will respond” to Israel’s latest targeted assassinations, which are “afraid” of what could happen. Nasrallah does not mention the timing, as “Israel’s wait is part of the punishment, the response and the battle, which is also psychological.” He continued, the response could be “alone” by Hezbollah, to avenge the death of military commander Fuad Shukr, or “collective by the entire front.”

Meanwhile, skirmishes continued on the border with Lebanon where the latest attack carried out by Hezbollah via drones left seven injured, one of whom is in critical condition. The IDF clarified that the damage was actually caused by an interceptor rocket launched by the army that missed its target in the air and hit the ground. Iran, for its part, is silent but, according to American media reports, Tehran is moving forward with preparations and has moved some missile launchers and carried out military exercises. As for the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Iran said it had not made any arrests while a new reconstruction of the event emerged according to which the political leader of Hamas was killed by a bomb placed under his bed a few hours before his assassination by two agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps recruited by the Mossad. According to the report, the two Iranians, members of the IRGC’s Ansar al-Mahdi protection unit, entered and exited Haniyeh’s room within minutes and were allowed to leave the compound without arousing suspicion. An hour later, the Mossad smuggled them out of the country.

As for the replacement of Haniyeh himself, Yahya Sinwar has been chosen as the new head of the political bureau of Hamas. This was announced by Wisam al Hasan, head of the secretariat of Osama Hamdan number two of the Palestinian movement. Sinwar was chosen unanimously, and this “indicates that the movement is aware of the nature of the stage on which it is called to fight”. The Palestinian leader explained that “the negotiations were conducted by the leadership and Sinwar was always present. The message of Hamas is that it has chosen someone who has taken responsibility for fighting on the ground in Gaza for more than 300 days. The unanimous choice of Sinwar as president by Hamas demonstrates the vitality of the movement”. As for the upcoming negotiations for the exchange of prisoners in Gaza, Hamas said that “it is too early to talk about what the negotiation process will lead to. The team that followed the negotiations during Ismayl Haniyeh’s presence will follow them during Sinwar’s presence”.