Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was killed in an overnight strike in Tehran, a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The assassination, which occurred early Wednesday morning, has sparked threats of retaliation against Israel and raised concerns about the conflict spreading across the Middle East. Haniyeh, a prominent figure in Hamas, was in Tehran for the swearing-in of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian when the strike occurred.
In a statement, Hamas accused Israel of launching an airborne guided projectile at the building where Haniyeh was staying. Hamas spokesperson Khalil Al-Hayya confirmed that Haniyeh was directly hit by a rocket and vowed that Israel would “pay the price” for the attack.
Iranian state media reported that the strike took place around 2 a.m. local time, but the specifics of how the operation was carried out remain unclear. The assassination comes at a critical time, as Haniyeh had been involved in prolonged negotiations for a truce in Gaza, which now seem even less likely to succeed.
The attack on Haniyeh follows the recent assassination of Hezbollah’s top military commander in Lebanon, marking a series of high-profile killings attributed to Israeli operations. Israel had previously pledged to target Hamas leaders in response to the group’s October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of approximately 250 others. Although Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s assassination, analysts and Iranian officials have pointed fingers at the Israeli government.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has stated that the U.S. will work to de-escalate the situation while reaffirming support for Israel’s defense.
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