TOP STORIES
Bomb Smuggled Into Tehran Guesthouse Months Ago Killed Hamas Leader | New York Times
Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader of Hamas, was assassinated on Wednesday by an explosive device covertly smuggled into the Tehran guesthouse where he was staying, according to seven Middle Eastern officials, including two Iranians, and an American official. The bomb had been hidden approximately two months ago in the guesthouse, according to five of the Middle Eastern officials. The guesthouse is run and protected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and is part of a large compound, known as Neshat, in an upscale neighborhood of northern Tehran.
The Israeli military said Thursday that it has confirmed that the head of Hamas’ military wing, Mohammed Deif, was killed in an airstrike in Gaza in July. The announcement came a day after an apparent Israeli strike in the Iranian capital killed Hamas’ top political leader. The rapid events this week have left U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators scrambling to salvage talks for a cease-fire deal in Gaza. At the same time, international diplomats want to avert an escalation into all-out regional war after the assassination in Tehran of Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh, Israel’s killing of a top Hezbollah commander in a Beirut strike and now Israel’s announcement of Deif’s death.
Biden Promises Netanyahu ‘New US Defensive Military Deployments’ | Bloomberg
President Joe Biden promised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “new defensive US military deployments” as Israel faces vows to avenge assassinations of leaders from Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah. Biden “reaffirmed his commitment to Israel’s security against all threats from Iran, including its proxy terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis,” the White House said in a readout of a call Thursday evening Washington time. “The president discussed efforts to support Israel’s defense against threats, including against ballistic missiles and drones, to include new defensive U.S. military deployments.” No details of the new deployments were immediately offered.
UANI IN THE NEWS
A collision between two tankers off Singapore in July raises questions over insurance claims, as one of the vessels previously shipped Iranian oil, potentially complicating payments due to Western sanctions, ship-trackers and industry sources say. The Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged Ceres I collided and caught fire about 55 km (35 miles) northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca on July 19. […] Ceres I last loaded Iranian oil via transfer with an Iranian tanker in March off the country's Kharg terminal, subsequently transferring the cargo to two tankers around the Malacca Strait between April 7-9, said Claire Jungman, chief of staff at advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran, which tracks Iran-related tanker traffic via satellite data.
Israel soon could find itself locked into a multifront war against the terrorist groups Hezbollah and Hamas, a scenario that experts say the Israelis may need additional time to prepare for after a grueling conflict with Hamas that so far has lasted 10 months...The combined U.S. and Israeli effort could be enough to deter Hezbollah or Iran from striking Israel too harshly, although the Biden administration’s approach to foreign policy—criticized for appeasing Iran—may make Tehran believe it can get away with war, said Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran.
SANCTIONS, BUSINESS RISKS, & OTHER ECONOMIC NEWS
Oil Slips Over $1 As Supply Intact Despite Middle East Conflict Fears | Reuters
Oil prices settled more than $1 lower on Thursday as global supply seemed largely unaffected by worries of a wider Middle East crisis after the killing of a Hamas leader in Iran, and as investors refocused on demand concerns. Global benchmark Brent crude futures closed $1.32, or 1.6%, lower at $79.52 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.60, or 2.1%, to $76.31.
Singapore Air, Taiwan Carriers Detour Iran On Conflict Risk | Bloomberg
Asian carriers Singapore Airlines Ltd., Eva Air Corp. and China Airlines Ltd. have temporarily stopped flying over Iranian airspace as tensions escalate in the Middle East. Flights operated by the three airlines were seen to be skirting to the north of Iran over central Asian countries such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, FlightRadar24 plane tracking shows.
PROTESTS & HUMAN RIGHTS
Supporters Say Iranian Nobel Winner’s Health Deteriorating In Prison | Arab News
The health of jailed Iranian Nobel laureate Narges Mohammedi has deteriorated in prison, supporters said Thursday, demanding her freedom and calling to give her access to medical care “without delay.” Rights activist Mohammedi, 52, has been jailed since November 2021, and has spent much of the past decade in and out of prison.
MILITARY/INTELLIGENCE MATTERS & PROXY WARS
Iran, Its Proxies Will Meet To Discuss Retaliation Against Israel, Say Sources | Reuters
Top Iranian officials will meet the representatives of Iran's regional allies from Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen on Thursday to discuss potential retaliation against Israel after the killing of the Hamas leader in Tehran, five sources told Reuters. The region faces a risk of widened conflict between Israel, Iran and its proxies after Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran on Wednesday and the killing of Hezbollah's senior commander on Tuesday in an Israeli strike on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital Beirut.
CONGRESS & IRAN
Congressional Republicans are probing Kamala Harris’ national security adviser for “blatantly promoting the Iranian regime’s perspective and interests” and entertaining “connections” to an Iranian influence operation that swept up a now-suspended State Department official and three of his aides. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) wrote a letter to the vice president on Wednesday demanding answers to questions about the adviser, Philip Gordon, who co-authored op-eds with one of the aides to suspended Iran special envoy Robert Malley and Malley himself — both of whom were involved in the Iranian influence campaign.
RUSSIA, SYRIA, ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH, LEBANON & IRAN
Hezbollah’s leader warned Thursday that the conflict with Israel has entered a “new phase,” as he addressed mourners at the funeral of a commander from the group who was killed by an Israeli airstrike this week in Beirut. Meanwhile in Tehran, Iran’s supreme leader prayed over the body of Hamas’ political leader, who was killed in a presumed Israeli assassination.
CHINA & IRAN
Russia, China Leading Wave of ‘Unprecedented’ Intelligence Threats To US | Voice of America
The United States is facing a series of unprecedented threats from foreign intelligence agencies, some of which are increasingly cooperating with each other to gain an advantage, according to a newly approved strategy to blunt the impact of espionage. The National Counterintelligence Strategy, signed by President Joe Biden on Thursday, calls out Russia, China, Iran and North Korea as the main culprits, identifying Moscow and Beijing as “the most significant intelligence threats.”
OTHER FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Brussels Defends Presence Of Senior EU Diplomat In Iran’s Presidential Inaguration | Euro News
The European Commission on Thursday stood by its decision to send a senior diplomat to attend the inauguration of the new president of Iran despite the backlash it sparked among members of the European Parliament. Enrique Mora, the deputy secretary general of the European External Action Service (EEAS), the bloc's diplomatic branch, who also serves as chief staff for High Representative Josep Borrell, flew to Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's new president, on behalf of the EU.
CYBERWARFARE
The Israeli hacker group, "We Red Evils Original", took responsibility for reported WiFi outages in Iran, according to Israeli media on Thursday night. Shortly before reports in Iran, the group posted a message on their Telegram saying, 'In the coming minutes, we will attack internet systems and providers in Iran. A severe blow is on the way.'
MISCELLANEOUS
Airlines Avoid Some Mideast Airspace, Cancel Israel Flights As Tensions Mount | Reuters
Airlines are avoiding Iranian and Lebanese airspace and cancelling flights to Israel and Lebanon, as concerns grow over a possible conflict in the region after the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah this week. Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI), opens new tab stopped flying through Iranian airspace from early Friday morning and is using alternative routes, saying safety is its top priority, it told Reuters in a statement. Taiwan's EVA Air and China Airlines also appeared to be avoiding Iran airspace for flights to Amsterdam on Friday which previously had flown over Iran, Flightradar24 data showed. The airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the route changes.