The apparent Israeli assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah's top military leader Fu’ad Shukr must be viewed on two levels.
One is, obviously, to cause the death of the leader of Hamas, ultimately responsible for the massacres and rapes and kidnappings of October 7.
But no less important is the messaging this assassination sends to Israel's enemies in the region.
1. No one who harms Jews and Israelis is safe from retaliation anywhere in the world.
1. No one who harms Jews and Israelis is safe from retaliation anywhere in the world.
Chances are Israel did not plan to kill both Haniyeh and Fu’ad Shukr within 12 hours of each other in two separate capitals, but that message is unmistakable. Anyone who attacks Israel is subject to attack themselves, no matter where they are.
They may be relatively safe in Turkey and Qatar for now, but even the leaders trying to take refuge in those places have to look over their shoulders. Every hour they spend on protecting themselves is an hour that they are not plotting to kill Jews.
2. Israeli intelligence is even better than they think.
And this has an important corollary: terrorist leaders cannot trust even their own top advisers.
Israel seems to know exactly who is where, and not only in Gaza but everywhere. Signals intelligence only goes so far - Israel has spies on the ground who have infiltrated the highest levels of terror groups and enemy states. When the leaders cannot trust their own people, they cannot get anything done.
3. Israel is no longer frightened of international reactions, not anymore. Not even from allies.
October 7 changed the rules against Israel, so it also changed the rules for Israel. Despite massive international pressure, both public and private, both from Israel's enemies and friends, Israel is not letting up.
Part of Hamas' calculus behind October 7 was that world pressure would force Israel to stop fighting and keep Hamas in power, as it did on previous wars. But the old rules no longer apply. And it was Hamas that changed the rules, not Israel.
4. Israel is not afraid of escalation either.
Another assumption that has been behind Hezbollah's and Iran's calculations is that Israel does not have the stomach for a wider war. Obviously, Israel would prefer that tings do not escalate, but when events occur that give Israel a choice of living with terror indefinitely or doing what it can to eliminate it, Israel now believes that waiting is not always the wisest choice.
5. If you love death and martyrdom as much as you say, Israel is happy to help you.
The people under the control of the terrorists and mullahs see how they are treated as disposable. Most of them are not happy with how they are being treated and they have some schadenfreude at seeing that these leaders hiding in their opulent hotels or underground bunkers are just as vulnerable as they are.
One lesson is clear: the people who claim to love martyrdom only love it when it happens to other people. And the people see this clearly.
6. Being a bodyguard for a targeted terror leader is not a job one will likely retire from.
6. Being a bodyguard for a targeted terror leader is not a job one will likely retire from.
The only two killed in Tehran were Haniyeh and his bodyguard. A bodyguard does not help much against sa missile. It may be a little harder to recruit people willing to die for...nothing.
