Ex-military intel chief: Israel was involved in Soleimani assassination

Maj. Gen. Tamir Hayman confirms Israel's part in high-profile assassination of the head of Iran's elite Quds force, adds Israel successfully torpedoed Iranian weapons shipments, entrenchment in Syria
i24NEWS|
Israel played a role in the assassination of top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, a former IDF intelligence chief revealed Monday.
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  • Gen. Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds force and mastermind of its regional security strategy, was killed in a U.S. airstrike in January 2020, near the Iraqi capital's international airport.
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    קאסם סולימאני סולימני מפקד כוח קודס משמרות המהפכה איראן
    קאסם סולימאני סולימני מפקד כוח קודס משמרות המהפכה איראן
    Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds force
    (Photo: MCT)
    “Soleimani’s assassination is an achievement, since our main enemy, in my eyes, are the Iranians," said former head of Israeli military intelligence Maj. Gen. Tamir Hayman - marking the first time a top Israeli official confirms Israel's role in the U.S.-led operation.
    "Two significant and important assassinations can be noted in my term,” added Hayman, referring to the assassination of Islamic Jihad leader Baha Abu al-Ata in 2019.
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    ארון עם איור של בנימין נתניהו בהלווית קאסם סולימאני ב טהרן איראן
    ארון עם איור של בנימין נתניהו בהלווית קאסם סולימאני ב טהרן איראן
    Israeli, U.S. flags over coffin in Iran during Soleimani's funeral
    (Photo: AFP)
    According to Hayman, Israel carried out multiple operations to disrupt the proliferation of Iranian weapons, adding that Israel has largely succeeded in stopping Iranian attempts to entrench itself in Syria.
    “We thwarted a lot of ways they tried to smuggle weapons and money and the headline of all of this is stopping the Iranians from entrenching themselves in Syria,” he said.
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    מפקד כוח קודס איראן קאסם סולימאני חוסל ב בגדד עיראק ו עלי חמינאי
    מפקד כוח קודס איראן קאסם סולימאני חוסל ב בגדד עיראק ו עלי חמינאי
    Soleimani's vehicle goes up in flames after drone strike
    (Photo: AFP)
    In May, it was reported that Israel provided the U.S. with key intelligence support, including tracking Soleimani's cellphone, according to Yahoo News.
    Former U.S. president Donald Trump was reportedly unhappy with Israel's level of involvement in the assassination, according to an Axois report.

    Story republished with permission from i24NEWS.
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