Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent political leader of Hamas, was assassinated on Wednesday in Tehran by an explosive device covertly planted in the guesthouse where he was staying. The operation has been attributed to the Israeli Mossad. Seven Middle Eastern officials, including two Iranians, and one American official have confirmed the details of the assassination.
The explosive device was hidden approximately two months ago in the high-security guesthouse run by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in the upscale Neshat compound. Haniyeh was in Tehran for the presidential inauguration and had used this guesthouse multiple times during his visits. The bomb was remotely detonated once Haniyeh was confirmed to be inside his room, killing him and a bodyguard, causing substantial damage to the building.
The successful placement and detonation of the bomb highlight a deep penetration of Israeli intelligence within Iran and underscore vulnerabilities in the Iranian security apparatus. Israeli officials have briefed the United States and other Western governments on the details, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement publicly. Iranian and Hamas officials have blamed Israel for the assassination, a view supported by several U.S. officials.
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