Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has issued a direct order to strike Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

The directive was confirmed by three Iranian officials briefed on the matter, including two members of the Revolutionary Guards who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.

The order was given during an emergency meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday morning, shortly after the announcement of Haniyeh’s death, said the officials.

The scope of Iran's potential response remains uncertain as Iranian military commanders are deliberating over a possible combination attack involving drones and missiles targeting military sites near Tel Aviv and Haifa, while avoiding civilian areas, according to the Iranian officials.

Additionally, a coordinated assault from Iran and allied fronts, including Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, is being considered to maximize impact.