Hamas has announced that its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an Israeli strike in Tehran, Iran.
Iranian media reports indicate that the airstrike targeted a building housing war veterans where Haniyeh was staying at approximately 02:00 local time (22:30 GMT).
At 62, Haniyeh was considered the de facto leader of Hamas and was instrumental in negotiating ceasefire agreements for the Gaza Strip.
While Israel has not made any official statements regarding the attack, it has previously vowed to dismantle Hamas in response to the 7 October assault on southern Israel, which resulted in 1,200 deaths.
On Wednesday, the Israeli government posted a photo of Haniyeh on social media with the caption “eliminated,” which was later removed.
Hamas reported that Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran’s new President, Masoud Pezeshkian, who was sworn in on Tuesday.
Haniyeh’s death is likely to impede ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, where he played a vital role as a negotiator, with efforts facilitated by Qatar, the US, and Egypt.
The attack has drawn condemnation from several nations, including Iraq, Turkey, Russia, and Qatar. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the US had no prior knowledge or involvement in the assassination.
Hamas’s military wing warned that Haniyeh’s death would escalate the conflict significantly.
Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei has vowed severe retaliation against Israel and declared three days of national mourning.
