Hamas’s top leader Ismail Haniya was killed in an attack in Tehran.
Anders Persson, Middle East expert and political scientist at Linnaeus University, believes that it is a great triumph for Israel.
– It is a huge insult and provocation against Iran, precisely that this is happening on Iranian soil when the new president is to take office, says Persson.
62-year-old Ismail Haniya was in Iran due to the country’s new president being sworn in. That’s when his residence in Tehran was hit in an attack.
Haniya and also his bodyguard were killed in the attack.
– It is a huge insult and provocation against Iran, precisely that this is happening on Iranian soil when the new president is about to take office. Regardless of whether it was an air tree or a ground attack, it is a huge insult that they are unable to protect him, says Anders Persson, Middle Eastern expert and political scientist Linnaeus University.
“Increased terrorist threat in Sweden”
Last night there was a large explosion in the capital of Lebanon, Beirut. According to information, the attack is to Haaretz having been directed at a commander within Hezbollah.
– The common denominator for these two attacks, apart from the fact that Israel is suspected of being behind both, is that Iran supports both of these groups. Now it remains to be seen how Iran will react, says Persson.
– This is a big feather in Israel’s cap and it shows their determination to go after the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. It is a great triumph for Israel, he continues.
Anders Persson believes that this can affect Sweden in many different ways.
– Increased oil prices to inflation and financial market instability. In the long run, we may see an increased terrorist threat. Lebanon in particular has close connections to Sweden because the vast majority of Palestinians came here via Lebanon, so if there is a war there, it could lead to larger demonstrations in Sweden.
When asked how Iran will react to the attack, Persson does not know.
– That’s the big question, they have a brand new president so I’m not sure how they will react.
Bildt: “Forget the truce”
The news also arouses other strong reactions.
“Forget the truce. Reprisals and escalation are at the center and I think we need to fasten our seat belts,” writes Carl Bildt, Sweden’s former foreign minister on X.
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the murder, but suspicions were quickly directed at Israel – which has vowed to kill Hamas leaders after the October 7 attack on Israel.