IDF Used Haniyeh’s phone to lock missile on Hamas leader

This method reflects a highly sophisticated level of signal intelligence and targeting capability.

By Hezy Laing

A spokesperson for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims that the Israeli missile which killed former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, 2024, tracked his cellphone signal to pinpoint his location.

This revelation, if verified, underscores the growing role of digital tracking and cyber warfare in modern targeted killings. It also raises concerns about the vulnerability of high-profile figures relying on mobile devices, even in secure environments.

The IDF uses advanced signal intelligence to track Hamas cell phone users by intercepting mobile data, triangulating GPS and SIM signals, and analyzing communication patterns.

This enables precise targeting of operatives, often in real time, using drones or missiles guided by the device’s location and activity.

According to Iranian state media and IRGC officials, the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh was executed using a precision missile that homed in on his mobile phone signal while he was staying in a guesthouse in Tehran.

The strike occurred just hours after Haniyeh attended the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Ismail Haniyeh was the political leader of Hamas from 2017 until his death in 2024.

In 2017, he succeeded Khaled Mashal as Chairman of the Hamas Political Bureau, becoming the group’s top political figure and international representative.

He played a central role in orchestrating and legitimizing Hamas’s military operations, including the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, which is considered one of the group’s most notorious attacks.

From his base in Qatar and later Iran, Haniyeh was instrumental in securing funding, weapons, and political support from regional allies, especially Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

He frequently met with Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and was seen as a key conduit between Hamas and Tehran.

Haniyeh’s most notorious legacy is tied to the October 7, 2023 attack, when Hamas launched a surprise invasion into southern Israel. Over 1,200 Israelis were killed, and more than 250 were taken hostage.

Haniyeh publicly praised the operation, calling it a “historic victory” and justifying the bloodshed as a catalyst for Palestinian resistance. His televised statements following the massacre drew global condemnation and solidified his reputation as a hardline militant leader.

Beyond October 7, Haniyeh was linked to numerous rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, tunnel operations, and coordination with other militant groups like Hezbollah.

His leadership emphasized asymmetric warfare, psychological operations, and the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes.

On July 31, 2024, Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran by a precision Israeli missile that reportedly tracked his cellphone signal.

The strike occurred hours after he attended the inauguration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran confirmed the method and blamed Israel, while Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz later acknowledged responsibility

The IRGC spokesperson denied earlier reports suggesting sabotage or a planted explosive device.

Instead, he stated that the missile was launched directly at the window of Haniyeh’s room while he was actively using his phone.

This method, if accurate, reflects a highly sophisticated level of signal intelligence and targeting capability, likely involving real-time surveillance and coordination.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz publicly confirmed in December 2024 that Israel was responsible for the operation, though the exact method had remained unclear until Iran’s recent disclosure.

Some earlier reports, including one from The New York Times, had speculated that a remote-controlled bomb had been smuggled into the guesthouse months prior.

Iranian media also warned that Israel has used similar cellphone tracking techniques in previous assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists and military figures.