Iran split over whether to blame Israel as bombs kill at least 95 at grave of terrorist chief
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At least 95 people were killed on Wednesday when two bombs detonated by remote control tore through a crowd at the grave of Qassim Soleimani, the figurehead of Iran’s global terrorist operations.
Iranian officials appeared split over whether to directly blame Israel for the country’s deadliest bombing since the 1979 revolution, which would likely demand a military response from the Islamic Republic.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, attributed the twin blasts to the “evil and criminal enemies of the Iranian nation”, but stopped short of naming Israel.
Iran’s foreign ministry likewise refrained from blaming its long-standing enemy.
However, two senior aides, vice-president Mohammad Mokhber, who is closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and Esmail Ghaani, the leader of its elite Quds Force, claimed Israel and the United States were the perpetrators.
America was not involved in the bombing and Washington had no reason to believe Israel was behind it either, said Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the US State Department, on Wednesday night.
John Kirby, the US national security spokesman, said: “We have no indication that Israel was in any way involved in this.”
He added: “We certainly had no indications that there would be some sort of violence surrounding the anniversary of his death.”
The bombings came on the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Soleimani, the former commander of the IRGC’s external wing, in a US drone strike. Thousands of mourners were visiting the general’s tomb in Kerman, about 510 miles south-east of the capital, Tehran.
Tasnim, a news agency with ties to the Revolutionary Guards, said that a pair of bombs placed in bags along the route to the cemetery had exploded as a memorial procession passed by.
Footage posted on social media showed a cloud of smoke billowing from a roadside as mourners fled screaming. In another clip, dead and bloodied bodies could be seen littered across the pavement.
Iran declared a national day of mourning on Thursday and emergency services issued calls for blood donations because of supply shortages given the high number of casualties.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the incident, which Iranian officials described as a “terrorist attack”.
The bombings followed less than 24 hours after Israel assassinated Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy leader of Hamas’s political wing, in a drone strike in Beirut.
Iranian officials and politicians quickly blamed Israel for the attack in Kerman, a usually peaceful region.
Israel has assassinated Iranian officials within the country before, particularly individuals linked to its nuclear programme, but never carried out a mass casualty attack. Sunni and Baloch militants have killed hundreds with suicide bombings.
“The pure blood of innocent people was spilled in Kerman by the agents of the Zionist entity and its supporters,” said Mr Mokhber.
Soleimani’s son, Mohammadreza, said: “The enemy is even scared of those who pay homage to my father.”
Mujtaba Zolnoori, the deputy speaker of Iran’s parliament, said: “In view of the explosions not being carried out by suicide bombers, we can say that they have been the work of the Israelis. This means they will receive a response on a global scale.”
Ayatollah Khamenei threatened a “harsh response” to the events in southern Iran.
“The evil and criminal enemies of the Iranian nation once again created a disaster and martyred a large number of dear people in Kerman,” he said in a statement.
“This disaster will have a harsh response, God willing.”
Tehran is known to prefer asymmetric combat, shrouding its intentions and striking as far as possible under the radar.
President Ebrahim Raisi promised the “pursuit and identification of the planners and perpetrators”, in a further sign Iran was not ready to blame a specific group or country for the attack.
Raz Zimmt, an Iran analyst at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies, said that the two most likely suspects for the bombing were Isis’s Afghan operation, known as Isis-Khorasan, or Pakistani separatists.
“I would assume that the Iranian regime would anyway put some responsibility on Israel, as it has always perceived both Israel and the US as supporters of terrorist and separatist elements aiming to destabilise Iran,” he said.
Iran is the main sponsor of Hamas and the Lebanese group Hezbollah, which has been engaged in daily cross-border fire with Israel since the war broke out in Gaza.
Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, blamed Israel for the assassination of Arouri in Beirut, but only said that Soleimani’s mourners were “targeted” by unspecified enemies.
Nasrallah sought to put distance between Tehran and the “resistance groups” that oppose Israel in the Middle East in a public address.
“These resistance groups are not tools,” he said, warning there would be “no ceilings” and “no rules” to Hezbollah’s fighting if Israel decided to wage war on Lebanon.
Authorities said the initial investigations were looking into two bomb-laden suitcases planted near the cemetery where Suleimani was buried, according to Iran’s IRNA news agency.
The first bomb was detonated about 3pm local time, with the second going off 20 minutes later, Iranian interior minister Ahmad Vahidi told state television.
One of the explosives was planted about 700 metres (765 yards) from Suleimani’s grave in Saheb al-Zaman Mosque, while the second was a further 300 metres away, state media reported.
It was the second explosion that killed and wounded the most people, according to Vahidi.
Soleimani was a US-designated terrorist and masterminded Iran’s military operations across the Middle East.
He was largely credited with building and marshalling Tehran’s international network of militias and proxies that fought against the US and Israel in the Middle East.
The former Iranian military chief remains a revered figure in Iran and thousands of mourners had gathered to mark the anniversary of his killing in his home town of Kerman.
His funeral in 2020 drew more than a million mourners, according to local officials, with 60 people killed in a stampede on the same road as yesterday’s explosion.
07:00 PM GMT
That's all for today
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07:00 PM GMT
Pictured: Israel-Hamas war
06:57 PM GMT
Shapps reiterates warning made in joint statement
Grant Shapps has reiterated the warning made in a joint statement against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the UK Defence Secretary, said: “The UK will not hesitate to take necessary & proportionate action should the Iranian-backed Houthis continue to put innocent lives at risk and threaten the global economy.”
The UK will not hesitate to take necessary & proportionate action should the Iranian-backed Houthis continue to put innocent lives at risk and threaten the global economy.
Together with eleven other nations we have issued an unprecedented warning to the Houthi’s against further… pic.twitter.com/vCxg6YrKR1— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) January 3, 2024
06:49 PM GMT
Hamas hostage died during a rescue operation in Gaza, says IDF
The Israeli military has said a Hamas hostage died during a rescue operation in Gaza last month.
The IDF named the man as Sahar Baruch as it confirmed his identity for the first time.
It said in a statement: “At this point, it is not possible to determine the circumstances of Sahar’s death, and it is not known whether he was murdered by Hamas or killed by our forces’ fire.”
More than 100 hostages have since been released under agreements brokered by Qatar and other countries, and one hostage has been rescued by Israeli forces.
At least 123 remain in Gaza, with at least 23 declared dead by Israeli authorities.
06:41 PM GMT
Pictured: Israel-Hamas war
06:24 PM GMT
The UK calls for an "immediate end" to attacks on container ships by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea in a joint statement of a dozen Governments
The UK has joined 11 other countries in a statement condemning Houthi attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The Houthi attacks were called “unacceptable” and “illegal” in a joint statement made by the Governments of Australia; Bahrain; Belgium; Canada; Denmark; Germany; Italy; Japan; Netherlands; New Zealand; United Kingdom; and the United States.
It said the aggression threatened “innocent lives” and “jeopardizing the movement of critical food, fuel, and humanitarian assistance throughout the world” as it called for an end to the attacks.
Here is the full statement:
“Ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilising. There is no lawful justification for intentionally targeting civilian shipping and naval vessels.
“Attacks on vessels, including commercial vessels, using unmanned aerial vehicles, small boats, and missiles, including the historic first use of anti-ship ballistic missiles against such vessels, are a direct threat to the freedom of navigation that serves as the bedrock of global trade in one of the world’s most critical waterways.
“These attacks threaten innocent lives from all over the world and constitute a significant international problem that demands collective action.
“Nearly 15 percent of global seaborne trade passes through the Red Sea, including 8 percent of global grain trade, 12 percent of seaborne-traded oil and 8 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas trade. International shipping companies continue to reroute their vessels around through the Cape of Good Hope, adding significant cost and weeks of delay to the delivery of goods, and ultimately jeopardizing the movement of critical food, fuel, and humanitarian assistance throughout the world.
“Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews. The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways.
“We remain committed to the international rules-based order and are determined to hold malign actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks.”
06:12 PM GMT
Nasrallah's speech comes to an end
Nasrallah’s speech, which lasted more than an hour, has now come to an end.
Here is a recap of what was said:
He threatened to fight with “no rules” if Israel starts a war on Lebanon
Nasrallah called international law ineffective
He claimed Israel’s deterrence capability has “collapsed” since Hamas’ attack on Oct 7
Those paying respects at the grave of Qassem Soleimani were “targeted”
06:06 PM GMT
Hezbollah has threatened to fight with “no rules” if Israel starts war on Lebanon
Hezbollah’s leader has said the group “is very strong” and will “not be deterred” by Israeli attacks.
Nasrallah warned there would be “no ceilings” and “no rules” to Hezbollah’s fighting if Israel decided to wage war on the country.
He added: “We are fighting on a frontier, and we know the calculations... but if the enemy has thought of launching a war on Lebanon it will be fighting a border with no rules, no guidelines.
“It’s going to be very, very costly. We are looking after the Lebanese interests.”
05:59 PM GMT
Nasrallah calls international law ineffective
While discussing international law, Hezbollah’s leader said it is unable to protect individuals or nations.
Nasrallah said the Gaza war showed: “International law is unable to give any protection to any nation, any individual.”
He claimed more than 22,000 people have been killed during the conflict.
05:51 PM GMT
Israel's deterrence capability has 'collapsed', says Hezbollah
The head of Hezbollah claimed Israel’s deterrence capability has “collapsed” since Hamas’ Oct 7 attack.
Nasrallah said new fronts are opening in the conflict, including in Lebanon, because countries are no longer “frightened”, as he cited attacks in Yemen.
The Yemeni militant group, the Houthis, have been responsible for several attacks on ships heading for Israel in the Red Sea.
He said: “This will affect the foundation of Israel. The state of Israel, you will not achieve the targets of war.”
04:52 PM GMT
Those behind today's terror attacks 'not yet known,' says Iranian interior minister
Ahmed Vahidi, Iran’s interior minister, has refrained from blaming Israel for the twin-bombings that killed more than 100 people at the grave of Qassem Soleimani.
“Those behind today’s terrorist acts in Kerman are not yet known to us,” he said.
His comments appear at odds with those of Mohammed Mokhber, an Iranian vice-president, who claimed that Israel was responsible for the attacks.
Mr Mokhber said the “pure blood of innocent people” had been spilled after two explosions tore through a crowd gathering to mark the anniversary of the 2020 killing of the former commander of the Iranian revolutionary Guard Corps’ external wing.
He blamed the “agents of the Zionist entity and its supporters.”
04:46 PM GMT
Those paying respects at Suleimani's grave were 'targeted,' claims Hezbollah head
Those paying respects at the grave of Qassem Soleimani were targeted, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has said.
Nasrallah also offered condolences to Hamas after Israel assassinated Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut on Tuesday.
He claimed the killing of al-Arouri was “flagrant Israeli aggression on Beirut’s Dahiyeh.”
04:16 PM GMT
Aftermath of Iran explosions in pictures:
03:37 PM GMT
Israel in talks with Congo on Gaza 'voluntary migration' plan, reports claim
Israel is in talks with Congo for a “voluntary migration” plan for Gazans, according to reports.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is allegedly conducting secret discussions for Congo and other nations to accept thousands of immigrants.
“Congo will be willing to take in migrants, and we’re in talks with others,” a senior source in the security cabinet told Israeli news site Zman Israel.
The report said that Gazan “migration” is rapidly becoming the leading policy of the government as a solution to the conflict.
The international community, including the United States, has rejected the possibility of the expulsion of Gazans.
03:17 PM GMT
Watch: Remote-control bombs kill over 100 at Iranian terrorist chief's grave
02:59 PM GMT
West Bank raid ongoing
A raid in the West Bank that began last night is still ongoing, according to one of the officials in the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem.
Suleiman al-Zuhairi told Al Jazeera that the raid began at 11.30pm last night and had lasted for 16 hours.
There is a strict curfew imposed on the residents and the camp has been completely surrounded from all sides.
It has been declared a closed military zone.
“More than 100 homes were attacked, their contents were completely destroyed, and these homes were used as sniper bases,” al-Zuhairi said. “At least four homes were bombed.”
He added that hundreds of Palestinians had been arrested during the raid, which is the 11th since October 7.
02:46 PM GMT
UN warns of dire situation in Gaza
The UN has warned that the situation in Gaza is dire after 90 days of war.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East said:
“Overcrowded streets of Rafah witness the alarming spread of disease. Famine looms, exacerbated by restricted access.
“It’s critical for a humanitarian ceasefire to provide urgent aid and end this forced, continuous displacement.”
02:28 PM GMT
Iran death toll rises to 103
The death toll following two explosions in Iran has climbed to 103, with at least 141 others injured.
02:27 PM GMT
First images of the Iran attack emerge
The first photographs taken at the site of an attack on Iran have been released.
02:11 PM GMT
IDF strikes Hezbollah cell in Lebanon
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) struck a Hezbollah cell in southern Lebanon, Israel’s military has revealed.
The IDF said that it also hit a site belonging to the terror group.
מטוס קרב של חיל-האוויר תקף תשתית טרור של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בשטח לבנון. pic.twitter.com/JMLp3x6MHp
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) January 3, 2024
It follows repeated cross-border attacks carried out by Hezbollah after a senior Hamas leader was killed in an Israeli strike.
The IDF said that several missiles were fired from Lebanon in the last few hours.
01:58 PM GMT
Yemen's Houthis say they 'targeted' container ship
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis said on Wednesday they had “targeted” a container ship bound for Israel, a day after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the militant group had fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles in the southern Red Sea.
The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, including the capital, have attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea since October that they say have Israeli links or are sailing to Israel, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Yahya Sarea, the Houthis’ military spokesman, said in a televised speech the group had “targeted” the CMA CGM TAGE container ship without elaborating. He did not say when or where the incident took place.
Sarea also said the Houthis had sent out warning messages to the ship and that its crew had paid no heed.
01:43 PM GMT
Hundreds of people walking when explosion went off
Hundreds of people were walking towards a ceremony that was being held to mark the 2020 death of Iran’s top commander Qassem Soleimani, according to reports.
It is thought that the death toll will rise.
01:24 PM GMT
Iran death toll rises to 73
Babak Yektaparast, a spokesperson for Iran’s emergency services, said 73 people have been killed and 170 injured during the attack in Iran.
01:24 PM GMT
France condemns Israeli ministers' call for Palestinian emigration
France described “provocative” comments made by Israeli ministers on Wednesday, which called for Palestinians to emigrate from Gaza and Jewish settlers to return to the besieged territory.
After Ben-Gvir’s comments on Monday and Smotrich’s on Sunday, the French foreign ministry said in a statement: “France condemns the comments of Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
“We call on Israel to refrain from such provocative declarations, which are irresponsible and fuel tensions.”
01:12 PM GMT
Iran death toll rises to 53
The death toll following a “terrorist attack” in Iran has risen to 53, according to reports.
At least 71 more people have been injured in a bombing in Kerman, Iranian state media reported, citing the spokesman of Iran’s emergency services organisation.
01:09 PM GMT
Watch: Israeli strike Hezbollah targets in Lebanon
12:57 PM GMT
Breaking: At least 20 killed in 'terrorist attacks' in Iran
Two explosions caused by “terrorist attacks” killed at least 20 people and wounded dozens near a cemetery in Iran, where a ceremony was being held to mark the 2020 death of the country’s top commander Qassem Soleimani in a US drone attack, Iranian officials said on Wednesday.
Iranian state television reported a first and then second explosion during the ceremony in the southeastern city of Kerman, saying at least 20 people had been killed.
“The blasts were caused by terrorist attacks,” a local official in the Kerman province said to state media.
The semi-official Nournews said earlier that “several gas canisters exploded on the road leading to the cemetery”.
12:42 PM GMT
EU's Borrell says world must impose solution to Gaza conflict
The international community must impose a solution to the Israel-Hamas conflict as the warring sides are unable to come to terms, Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, said on Wednesday.
“I believe that we have learned in these 30 years that the solution has to be imposed from outside because the two parties will never be able to reach an agreement,” he told an event in Lisbon, warning also that “if this tragedy doesn’t end soon, the entire Middle East might end up in flames”.
12:14 PM GMT
Germany calls Red Sea attacks unacceptable
Attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea are unacceptable and must stop, a spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
He added that Berlin was in contact with Brussels over a possible European Union maritime mission in the region.
“These attacks are fully unacceptable and must stop,” the spokesperson told a government press conference in Berlin.
He said Germany is examining all possible options under international and constitutional law when asked how Berlin would respond.
11:48 AM GMT
Palestinian Authority: Gaza witnessing 'a state of hunger and starvation'
Mohammad Shtayyeh, the Palestinian Authority prime minister, said that Gaza is witnessing “a state of hunger and starvation in scenes that are shocking to us and to the world”.
“People have lost their strength, are no longer able to support their emaciated bodies and have become exposed to epidemics and diseases,” he told a government meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Shtayyeh added that the world must parachute food and open crossings to bring supplies into Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.
11:36 AM GMT
Pictured: Palestinian protestors detained
Israeli forces detained Palestinians who protested against the demolition of a building belonging to Palestinians, which they claimed as unlicensed at Jabel Mukaber Neighborhood in East Jerusalem.
11:26 AM GMT
Who was Saleh al-Aruri?
Saleh al-Aruri, the senior Hamas official killed in a suspected Israeli strike in Lebanon, played a key role in building up the Palestinian group’s military capabilities and its links with regional allies.
Aruri, 57, was one of the founders of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, in the early 1990s.
More recently, he was the “channel or link” between the Hamas movement, Iran and Hezbollah, a Hamas source told AFP. He had regularly visited Iran.
Aruri was also considered the leader of Hamas in the West Bank, and the source said that his knowledge and expertise had helped develop the Islamist movement’s military capabilities in recent years.
Considered Hamas’s number two at the time of his killing, Aruri had been accused by Israel of playing a role in numerous attacks, including the October 7 massacre.
11:15 AM GMT
Hezbollah leader due to deliver speech today
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is due to deliver a speech at 4 pm GMT following the assassination of a senior Hamas official.
Israel is said to be on high alert following the attack in Beirut after it was widely blamed on their military.
There are fears that the attack could widen the conflict. Nasrallah previously vowed to retaliate against any Israeli attack on allied militants inside of Lebanon.
11:02 AM GMT
Israeli lawmaker praises military for assassination
An Israeli lawmaker has congratulated the country’s military and secret service for the assassination in Lebanon, despite Israel not claiming responsibility.
Danny Danon, a member of the Israeli Knesset, wrote on X, formerly Twitter:
“I congratulate the IDF [military], Shin Bet, the Mossad and the security forces for killing senior Hamas official Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut.
“Anyone who was involved in the 7/10 massacre should know that we will reach out to them and close the account with them.”
10:49 AM GMT
Hezbollah urged not to respond by Lebanese government
Lebanon has urged Hezbollah not to respond to the killing of a senior Hamas leader in Beirut, according to the country’s foreign minister.
Abdallah Bou Habib said that his government was trying to “impress on them that they should not respond themselves”.
He told BBC news: “We don’t tell them, we dialogue with them in this regard.”
Habib added that it would be clear whether Hezbollah would react within the next few days.
“We are very concerned. [The] Lebanese don’t want to be dragged, even Hezbollah does not want to be dragged into a regional war,” he said.
Hezbollah and the Israeli military have been exchanging fire almost daily over the Israeli-Lebanese border since the war in Gaza began.
Hezbollah has called the strike “a serious attack on Lebanon, its people, its security, sovereignty and resistance”.
10:32 AM GMT
In pictures: Beirut following the attack
Pictures are emerging from Beirut following the recent assassination of a Hamas senior official.
10:17 AM GMT
22,313 Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 7
A total of 22,313 Palestinians have been killed and 57,296 have been injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
Some 128 Palestinians were killed and 261 injured in the past 24 hours, the ministry added.
The figures have not been independently verified.
10:07 AM GMT
Six other Hamas members killed in Lebanon named
Six other men who were assassinated alongside a senior Hamas commander, Saleh al-Arouri, have been named.
Samir Effendi and Azzam al-Aqra were leaders of the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas.
Effendi was responsible for the military action of Hamas inside Lebanon, while al-Aqra led Hamas’ military file abroad.
The other members were named as Mahmoud Zaki Shaheen, Muhammad Bashasha, Muhammad al-Rayes and Ahmed Hammoud.
09:56 AM GMT
Killing of Hamas leader was 'cowardly terrorist operation', Iran says
Iran has called the killing of a senior Hamas leader inside of Lebanon a “cowardly terrorist operation”.
Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said:
“The Zionist regime has not achieved any of its goals after weeks of war crimes, genocide and destruction in Gaza and the West Bank, despite the direct support of the US.
“The evil activity of the terror machine of this terrorist regime in other countries is a real threat to peace and security and a serious alarm for the security of the countries in the region.”
He added the attack that killed Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut was a “cowardly terrorist operation”.
09:43 AM GMT
UN peacekeepers 'deeply concerned' amid possible escalation of violence
The UN peacekeeping force inside of Lebanon said they are “deeply concerned” about possible escalation in the region.
The force’s spokesperson said:
“We are deeply concerned at any potential for escalation that could have devastating consequences for people on both sides of the blue line. We continue to implore all parties to cease their fire, and any interlocutors with influence to urge restraint.”
The blue line is a boundary drawn by the UN that separates Lebanon and northern Israel.
The peacekeeping force, made up of 9,347 troops, was formed in 1978 to confirm the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
09:34 AM GMT
The latest pictures of the war
Here is a roundup of the latest photos from Israel and Gaza.
09:25 AM GMT
IDF engaged in 'intensive battles' in Khan Younis
Israel’s military is engaged in “intensive battles” in the southern city of Khan Younis, according to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
The IDF has located what is described as a “tunnel shaft” in a school.
On the Telegram messaging app, it wrote:
“In Khan Younis, intensive battles against terrorist operatives are continuing. IDF ground troops identified a terrorist that attempted to plant an explosive device on a tank, and directed an IDF aircraft to strike the terrorist and three additional terrorists in the area. Furthermore, in Khan Younis, an IDF fighter jet struck an Islamic Jihad weapons production complex.”
The statement added that “during searches in a school, the troops located a tunnel shaft and photos of weapons”.
It said: “In Daraj Tuffah, IDF ground troops identified a terrorist cell operating drones used to observe IDF forces in the area. In coordination with IDF artillery and ground forces, a UAV struck the terrorist cell, and killed them.”
09:08 AM GMT
US believes Hamas used Al Shifa Hospital but evacuated
US spy agencies have found that Islamist group Hamas and another Palestinian group fighting Israel used Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital to command forces and hold some hostages before largely evacuating the complex days before Israeli troops entered it, according to a US official on Tuesday, citing declassified US intelligence.
The complex was used by both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to command forces fighting against Israel, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
US intelligence agencies have not disclosed the evidence on which they based their assessment. The official said the US had independently confirmed the information.
Israel has also said Al Shifa, which it had occupied earlier during the war in Gaza, had been used by Hamas. Israeli troops entered the hospital in November.
The targeting of the hospital caused global alarm over the fate of civilians and patients who were inside.
08:48 AM GMT
No damage reported after Houthi attack, US reports
Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the southern Red Sea, though no damage was reported, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said late on Tuesday.
The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, including the capital, have attacked commercial vessels in the Red Sea they say have Israeli links or are sailing to Israel since October, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Multiple commercial ships in the area reported the impact of the missiles in surrounding waters, CENTCOM added.
Britain’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Authority also reported up to three explosions between one and five nautical miles from a merchant vessel in the Bab al-Mandab strait, 33 nautical miles east of Eritrea’s Assab, with no reports of damage.
Several shipping lines have suspended operations through the Red Sea waterway in response to the attacks, taking the longer journey around Africa instead.
08:38 AM GMT
Turkey detains 33 people suspected of spying for Israel
Turkish authorities have detained 33 people suspected of spying for Israel, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported on Tuesday.
Authorities were still searching for 13 others believed to have links to Israel’s Mossad security service, the country’s Anadolu Agency reported.
The suspects were detained during raids in Istanbul and seven other provinces for allegedly planning to carry out activities that included “reconnaissance” and “pursuing, assaulting and kidnapping” foreign nationals living in Turkey, according to the agency.
The suspects were allegedly recruited to spy on Palestinians residing in Turkey as well as Israeli activists opposed to their government, Anadolu said.
According to the news agency, Israeli officials allegedly contacted the suspects via social media.
08:28 AM GMT
Israel minister slams US
Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has hit back at ally the United States over its criticism of his push to transfer Gazans out of the Palestinian territory.
“The United States is our best friend, but first of all we will do what is best for the State of Israel: the migration of hundreds of thousands from Gaza will allow the [Israeli] residents of the envelope to return home and live in security and will protect the IDF soldiers,” the far-right minister posted on X, formerly Twitter, late on Tuesday.
