Israel's defence minister has admitted that Israel killed Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July. Israel has also vowed to target the heads of the Iran-backed Houthi movement.

The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have escalated their missile and drone offensives against Israel throughout the war. A missile launched on Saturday struck Tel Aviv, injuring at least 16 people. In response, Israel has conducted three rounds of airstrikes in Yemen, aiming to cripple the Houthis' operational capabilities.

Israel has admitted responsibility for assassinating Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran last summer. In a speech on Monday, Foreign Minister Israel Katz acknowledged that Israeli forces were behind the killing of Haniyeh, who died in an explosion in Tehran in July.

By bne Tehran bureau Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has publicly claimed responsibility for the July killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, making the first official acknowledgement of the operation,

Defence chief Israel Katz publicly admitted to killing Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July, further risks tensions between Iran and Israel.

Defence Minister Israel Katz on Monday acknowledged that Israel had killed former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this year, as he warned the military would "decapitate" the leadership of Yemen's Huthi rebels.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz admitted on Monday (December 23) for the first time publicly to Israel's killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July, further risking tensions between Tehran and its arch-enemy Israel in a region shaken by Israel's war in Gaza and the conflict in Lebanon.