Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in Iran, group says
Hamas’ political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed early Wednesday in the capital of Iran, the Palestinian militant group announced.
Hamas’ political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed early Wednesday in the Iranian capital, according to Iran and the Palestinian militant group, both of which blamed Israel for an attack that has raised fears of spiraling conflict in the region.
Haniyeh, 62, was assassinated in Tehran after he attended the inauguration ceremony for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Hamas said.
Haniyeh, who “died as a result of a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran,” according to a Hamas statement on Telegram, was also a senior negotiator in cease-fire talks with Israel. So his death could imperil negotiations aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip and ensuring the return of hostages held in the enclave.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards had been killed in a strike on their residence and said it was investigating, Iranian state media reported. The residence was “struck by an air-launched guided projectile” at around 2 a.m. local time Wednesday (6:30 p.m. ET Tuesday), state media said.
Ismail Haniyeh, left, met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian earlier Tuesday.Iranian Presidency Office via APPezeshkian, a reformist who had promised to reach out to the West, said Iran would “defend its territorial integrity, honor, dignity and pride” and make the attackers “regret their cowardly action.”
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