In a shocking development, Hamas says its leader Ismail Haniyeh has been killed in an airstrike while staying in Tehran, Iran. The attack occurred at approximately 2:00 AM local time, reports say.
“Further investigations are underway that will be announced soon,” it said.
Haniyeh was attending the inauguration of Iran’s president when the strike happened. The group blames Israel for the attack, but Israel has yet to respond. However, Israel has previously vowed to eliminate Hamas’s leaders.
“Iran will defend its territorial integrity, dignity, honour, and pride, and will make the terrorist occupiers regret their cowardly act of assassinating Haniyeh in Tehran,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday.
This comes just hours after Israel claimed responsibility for killing a senior Hezbollah commander in a strike in Beirut, Lebanon.
The attacks on two senior Iran-backed militant leaders in the space of 24 hours have raised fears of further regional conflict.
Haniyeh’s death also throws ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel into doubt, as he was a critical figure in negotiations.