Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Assassinated in Iran

Ismail Haniyeh, the political chief of Hamas, has reportedly been assassinated in Tehran, Iran, late Tuesday night. According to a statement from Hamas on Wednesday, the group accused Israel of carrying out a “treacherous Zionist raid” on Haniyeh’s residence.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard confirmed that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed by an airborne guided projectile while he was in Tehran for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. Haniyeh was staying at a special residence for military veterans in northern Tehran when the attack occurred around 2 a.m. local time (23:30 GMT+1 on Tuesday).

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, condemned the assassination as a criminal act and promised harsh punishment for those responsible. In a statement, Hamas mourned Haniyeh, referring to him as a martyr and warning that his death would have significant repercussions throughout the region.

Haniyeh’s assassination comes amid heightened tensions following Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths. Observers fear that his death could escalate violence further. Haniyeh had been involved in negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.

In response to the assassination, Iran declared three days of national mourning. The implications of Haniyeh’s death are still unfolding, as many are concerned about whether it will escalate the war further. The statement from Hamas’s military wing, Qassam Brigades, is available here.

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