Mysterious Overnight Strike Kills Political Leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in the Heart of Tehran
This is a developing story …
Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was killed in the Iranian capital of Tehran early on Wednesday morning.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hamas confirmed he was assassinated in an attack on his residence in the heart of the Iranian capital, where he was attending the inauguration of the new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
The attack also resulted in the death of one of Haniyeh’s bodyguards.
The final embrace yesterday: Khamenei the terrorist meets with Haniyeh the terrorist in Tehran.
Hours after, Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran. ? pic.twitter.com/6wPZk5HCkO
— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) July 31, 2024
There was no official Israeli comment on the report of the assassination, which followed mere hours after Israel confirmed it had killed Hezbollah’s Chief of Staff, Fouad Shukr, in a strike in Beirut on Tuesday evening.
However, the IDF did emphasize that there were “no changes in the Home Front Command defensive guidelines,” and it would update the Israeli public about any changes, amid concerns that the strike in the Iranian capital could provoke an Iranian response.
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Neither Iran nor Hamas published details regarding the circumstances of the strike. An Iranian source told the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen network that the strike was carried out by a missile launched from outside the country.
Haniyeh had traveled to Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s new president from his home base in Qatar.
The Hug of Death. Hamas Chief Political Officer, Ismail Haniyeh seen giving a Hug yesterday to the President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian during his Inauguration Ceremony in Tehran. pic.twitter.com/U7GR4z2Sj1
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) July 31, 2024
Pictures from Tuesday showed him meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, as well as the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Ziyad al-Nakhaleh.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin said he had no information to give, after being asked on Wednesday whether the U.S. had advance notice of Israeli involvement in Haniyeh’s assassination.
Musa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, stated “The murder of Haniyeh is a cowardly act and will not pass in silence.”
Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri added, “We are waging an open war for the liberation of Jerusalem and we are ready to pay different prices.”
Hussein al-Sheikh, a high-ranking official in the Palestinian Authority who has criticized Hamas in the past and is widely seen as a pragmatic figure, condemned Ismail Haniyeh’s killing, calling it “a cowardly act.”
The Yemeni Houthi terrorists also responded, calling the death of Haniyeh a “terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of the laws.”
In the morning, The New York Times reported that Iranian officials were in “complete shock” following the assassination of Haniyeh, feeling it to be a severe blow to Iran’s security reputation as the regime strives to project power in the region.
Haniyeh and his delegation were staying in a guest house of the IRGC in northern Tehran, the pro-Qatari newspaper al-Araby al-Jadeed reported. Informed sources in Egypt also told the newspaper that PIJ leader staid in the house but on a different floor.
A high-ranking regime spokesman called the assassination a “cowardly act,” adding the perpetrators would “undoubtedly” receive a response.
An Iranian source told Reuters that the regime’s “security bodies” would decide on “our response strategy” to Haniyeh’s dramatic assassination.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, which only meets in rare circumstances, convened Wednesday morning at the supreme leader’s residence, two Iranian officials told NYT.
They added that Esmail Qaani, commander of the Quds Force which is responsible for the regime’s covert foreign operations and directs its regional network of militias and terror groups, was also in attendance.
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This article originally appeared on ALL ISRAEL NEWS and is reposted with permission.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
