In a dramatic turn of events, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly killed in an overnight strike in Tehran, Iran. The attack, which Hamas attributes to Israel, occurred around 2 a.m. local time on Wednesday, following Haniyeh’s attendance at the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
This assassination comes on the heels of another strike in Beirut, Lebanon, which reportedly eliminated senior Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur.
Israel has confirmed its involvement in the Beirut operation but has not commented on Haniyeh’s death, stating only that it does not respond to foreign media reports.
These dual strikes have sent shockwaves through the region, shaking up ongoing efforts to negotiate a peace deal in Gaza to return the civilian hostages still being held by Islamic terror groups.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while declining to speculate on the strikes’ impact, emphasized the “imperative of getting the cease-fire.” The U.S. has stated it was not aware of or involved in Haniyeh’s killing.
The assassination of Haniyeh on Iranian soil has raised concerns about potential retaliation. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared it Iran’s “duty to ask for the blood of our dear guest.” Iran’s previous attack on Israel was largely ineffective.
Experts are divided on the long-term impact of these assassinations. While some argue that the loss of key figures like Haniyeh and Shukur could significantly disrupt operations, others contend that the radical Islamic terror organizations have robust leadership structures capable of quickly filling such voids.
Haniyeh’s body will be moved from Tehran to Qatar where he has been living for years, with his burial scheduled for Friday in Doha.