Hassan Nasrallah meanwhile was the leader of the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah - he was assassinated in Beirut in September as Israel dramatically escalated its military campaign against Hezbollah, with which it had been trading near daily cross-border fire since the day after the 7 October attacks.

The Israeli official threatened to take similar action against the leadership of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen.

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.

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.

Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that Israel is responsible for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. This marks the first public admission of this attack. Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly admitted for the first time that Israel is responsible for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh,

CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz admitted on Monday 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.