Israel’s Minister of Defence Israel Katz has for the first time publicly acknowledged that his country assassinated Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, warning that the Yemen-based Houthis will also be struck a “severe blow”.

Since launching its retaliatory war in Gaza, Israel claims to have eliminated the leaders of militant groups including, Sinwar, the mastermind of the 7 October attack on Israel, and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an airstrike on a building complex in Beirut.

Israel Katz admitted for the first time publicly to Israel's killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July, further risking tensions in the region.