GAZA, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Israeli security sources confirmed Sunday they were responsible for a car bombing in Damascus that took the life of a senior Hamas leader.
"Some people lead dangerous lives," an Israeli official said in response to the assassination of Izel Dein Sheikh Khalil, the Ha'aretz news service reported.
But a Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, told UPI the assassination was "an Israeli attempt to expand the area of aggression carried out against the Palestinian people." Another Hamas spokesman in Gaza told Ha'aretz the assassination was "a cowardly crime by the Zionist Mossad" and said Hamas would retaliate with terror attacks inside Israel.
"[Israeli Prime Minister] Ariel Sharon is implementing his threats to assassinate leaders of Hamas abroad, and we would tell him that we can never keep quiet for such crimes," said Abu Zuhri.
He said all Hamas leaders were tightening security to avoid more assassinations.
