Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran overnight, the Palestinian terrorist group said Wednesday, attributing the killing to Israel. His assassination came just hours after the targeted killing of Hezbollah's top military commander Fuad Shukr.
Haniyeh was in Iran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. On Tuesday, he met with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah.
Haniyeh's killing was first reported by Iranian television, with an announcement from Hamas soon following. "Hamas mourns the loss of our leader and brother, Shahid (martyr) Ismail Haniyeh, who died as a result of a treacherous Zionist attack on his residence in Tehran," Hamas said.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Secretary-General Ziyad al-Nakhalah and Haniyeh meeting with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday
(Photo: Reuters)
"Early this morning, the residence of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was struck, resulting in his and one of his bodyguards' martyrdom. The cause is under investigation and will be announced soon," Iran's Revolutionary Guards said.
Senior Hamas member Mousa Marzook vowed that Haniyeh's killing would not go unanswered.