Iran's government orders DIRECT attack on Israel in retaliation for killing of Hamas leader in Tehran

Three Iranian officials said the announcement was made after Haniyeh had been killed, the New York Times reports.

Israel has not confirmed nor denied the assassination of the Hamas leader.

Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of the killing.

In April, Iran made its biggest attack on Israel in decades of hostility when it launched missiles and drones in retaliation for an Israeli strike.

Israel's attack hit Iran's embassy compound and killed several Iranian military commanders in Damascus, Syria.

Iranian officials say the attack will likely targets the vicinity of Tel Aviv and Haifa.

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However, they added that it would make a point of avoiding strikes on civilian targets.

A coordinated attack from Iran and other allies, including Yemen, Syria and Iraq could be carried out for maximum effect.

In his public statement about Haniyeh’s death, Khamenei suggested that he would retaliate directly.

He said: "We see avenging his blood as our duty," as it happened on the territory of the Islamic Republic.

He added that Israel had set themselves up for receiving "a severe punishment".

Analysts have said that Iran sees retaliation as necessary for both the killing of Haniyeh and a deterrence against Israel killing other powerful enemies.

"Iran likely believes it has no choice other than retaliating to deter further Israeli attacks, defend its sovereignty, and preserve its credibility in the eyes of its regional partners,” Ali Vaez, the Iran director of the International Crisis Group, told The New York Times.