Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran

TEHRAN – Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of Hamas, was assassinated early Wednesday morning in Tehran, the capital of Iran. This confirmation comes from both Hamas and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

According to the IRGC, Haniyeh’s residence in Tehran was targeted, leading to his death and that of one of his bodyguards. The exact cause of the attack is still under investigation, with further details expected to be released soon.

The assassination occurred shortly after Haniyeh attended the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new President, Masoud Pezeshkian. This high-profile event appears to have been the backdrop for the attack.

As of now, Israel has not issued an official statement regarding the incident. However, this event follows closely on the heels of a recent Israeli claim that it had killed a Hezbollah commander implicated in an attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri condemned the assassination as a severe escalation by Israel aimed at undermining Hamas’s resolve. He emphasized that Hamas would persist in its efforts until victory is achieved.

Another senior Hamas leader, Moussa Abu Marzouk, denounced the killing as a “cowardly act” that would not go unpunished.

The assassination of Haniyeh adds to the ongoing conflict and violence. Since the beginning of Israel’s aggressive military actions against Gaza, over 60 members of Haniyeh’s family have been killed in Israeli strikes, including his sister, three sons, and three grandchildren.