Israel played a role in assassinating Major General Soleimani

Jerusalem – Major General Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force, was killed in a US drone strike last year. Iran had accused Israel to be part of this US operation. At the time, Israel did not respond to allegations. However, a retired senior military official of the Israeli army has now accepted Israel’s role in Suleimani’s assassination. The official claimed that the assassination of Suleimani was a great success for Israel. A strong response from Iran is expected after this comment.

In January 2020, the United States launched a drone strike outside Iraq’s Baghdad International Airport. The attack killed Major General Qassem Soleimani and a senior commander of a terrorist organisation in Iraq linked with Iran. Then US President Donald Trump had owned up the attack in a public statement. Iran had threatened to target the US and harm their interests worldwide. Some Iranian leaders and analysts had blamed Israel for Soleimani’s assassination. At the time, Israel had not responded to the allegations. But in a recent interview to a magazine, Major General Tamir Hayman, the former head of the Israeli military’s intelligence service, made it clear that Israel had played a key role in Soleimani’s assassination. Major General Qassem Soleimani was the head of Iran’s anti-Israel front in Syria. ‘This was a great achievement for Israel,’ boasted Hayman.

Hayman retired from the Israeli army in October. Moreover, he mentioned that two significant campaigns were carried out during his tenure. One of them was the assassination of Soleimani. The former Israeli official did not disclose many details.

A few months ago, according to media reports, Israel had leaked three phone numbers of Soleimani to US command just hours before the US attack. Soleimani had switched off his phone three times before boarding the plane from Syria, details of which were claimed to have been leaked by Israel to the United States.

Meanwhile, two months ago, senior Iranian officials had threatened US and Israel to avenge the killing of Soleimani and a scientist involved in the nuclear program. In such a scenario, former Israeli officials appear to have provoked Iran by admitting Israel’s involvement in assassinating Soleimani. Earlier in the day, a senior Iranian military official claimed that Israel would not be able to launch an attack on Iran without the support of the US. The Iranian official also threatened to devastate Israel if Israeli missiles were directed at Iran. Against this background, it appears that the statement by former Israeli officials admitting Israel’s involvement in the assassination of Major General Soleimani is a response to Iran’s threats.