Agencies
Tehran
Hamas Political Bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh has been assassinated in Iran’s capital, Tehran, according to a statement from the group that governs Gaza, which blamed Israel for his death.
Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed after the building where they were staying was struck, the statement said, adding that Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.
“The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas mourns to our great Palestinian people, to the Arab and Islamic nation, and to all the free people of the world: Brother, leader, martyr, Mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, who was killed in a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran,” Hamas said.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also announced Haniyeh’s death.
“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,” the IRGC said in a statement.
Hamas official Khalil Al Hayya praised Ismail Haniyeh,saying, “he gave up his life for religion and country”.
Al Hayya also said the missile that killed Haniyeh struck him “directly”.As a result of the missile strike, windows, doors and walls in his room were destroyed.
Speaking at a news conference in Tehran, he said that Lebanon and Iran “will never leave this unanswered”.
He said Israel was seeking to “burn the entire region … because they’ve failed to achieve their goals.” page 6
