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Following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, a Telegram outlet affiliated with the Iranian regime amplified calls to avenge his death, suggesting that he was killed by Israel.
IRGC Telegram Outlet: "Flag Of Vengeance Is Raised"
On July 31, 2024, a Telegram channel affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shared a post featuring a photo showing a red flag hoisted over the dome of Jamkaran Mosque in the outskirts of Qom, Iran, a city considered sacred among Shi'ite Muslims.[1]
The flag featured a text that reads: "Ya la Tharat Al-Husayn," a slogan that was first used to avenge Prophet Muhmmad's grandson, Imam Al-Husayn, who was killed in Karbala in 680 AD.
Raising the flag comes in the aftermath of the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the chief political leader of Hamas, who was killed on Wednesday morning in Tehran, Iran.
"Following the assassination of martyr Ismail Haniyeh, the red flag of Ya la Tharat Al-Husayn was hoisted over the dome of the Jamkaran Holy Mosque as a sign of revenge for the blood of this guest of Iran," reads the post accompanying the photo.
Although there was no claim of responsibility from Israel, Telegram channels affiliated with Iran-backed militias in the region accused Israel of carrying out the attack, which took place hours after Israel carried out an airstrike on southern Beirut, killing a senior commander in Lebanese Hizbullah, Fuad Shukr.[2]
Haniyeh, who resides in Qatar, was visiting Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony for the new Iranian President, Masoud Pezeshkian, and to meet with Iranian officials who have been extending support to Hamas in its war against Israel.
The channel also posted a second photo that provided a closeup shot of the text on the flag.
Iran Minister: "We Shall Avenge Them"
Further, the Telegram channel shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili, the Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance.
His post featured images of IRGC slain leader Qassim Sulaimani and Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, the slain deputy chief of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU). The two men were killed together in a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad International Airport in January 2020.
Along with a photo of Haniyeh, the post also featured images of President Ebrahim Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, who were both killed in a helicopter crash in May 2024.
Esmaili captioned their images with a Quranic verse that reads: "From the criminals, will take retribution."
He also wrote: "We shall pray in Jerusalem, by Allah's willing."
The channel commented on Esmaili's post, writing:
"The strange tweet by the Minister of Guidance after the martyrdom of Ismail Haniyeh. The juxtaposition of the images of martyr Raisi and Abdollahian alongside martyr Soleimani, Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis and Haniyeh have stirred reactions among cyberspace users."
Later in the day, Esmaili, followed up on his earlier post, writing:[3]
"All the martyrs in this frame are the flag bearers of the resistance front."
[1] Telegram, July 31, 2024.
[2] Bbc.com/news/articles/c1rwxyjydlyo, July 30, 2024.
[3] X, July 31, 2024.
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