Germany's Reaction to the Killing of Haniyeh: Tensions in the Region Must Be Prevented; Hamas is a Terrorist Organization

Annalena Baerbock, Germany's Foreign Minister, called for restraint following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas in Tehran, to prevent further escalation of conflicts in the Middle East. In a press conference, she stated, "The main issue now is to prevent a regional tension from flaring up and plunging the entire region into chaos." She also labeled Hamas as a terrorist organization responsible for numerous brutal and deadly attacks against Israel. Tasnim News Agency reported early Wednesday, August 10, citing the Revolutionary Guards, that Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau, was killed in Tehran. The public relations office of the Revolutionary Guards announced that Haniyeh's residence was hit, resulting in the deaths of Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards. The Guards specified the time of the incident as early Wednesday morning and the location as Haniyeh's residence in Tehran. The Iranian Foreign Ministry claimed on Wednesday that the United States bears responsibility for Haniyeh's death due to its support for Israel. However, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized on the same day that the United States had no involvement in Haniyeh's killing and was unaware of it. Blinken, during an interview with Asia News Channel while visiting Singapore, stated, "This is something we were not aware of and had no involvement in. Speculating on this matter is very difficult." In response to a question about the potential impact of Haniyeh's death on the war, he remarked, "I have learned over the years never to speculate about the impact of one event on another." Earlier, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin refrained from commenting on Haniyeh's killing but asserted that "war is not inevitable," although if Israel were attacked, the U.S. would certainly assist in its defense. During his visit to the Philippines, Austin responded to a journalist's inquiry about Israel's possible role in the attack in Tehran and whether the U.S. had prior knowledge of its execution, stating that the U.S. had heard reports on the matter but would not comment on the details. He emphasized that "war is not inevitable" and that there is "space and opportunity" for diplomacy, expressing hope that all parties would strive to utilize "these opportunities." Austin also reiterated that if Israel were attacked, "we will certainly assist in defending Israel," referring to U.S. support for Israel in April and stating, "We will do this again." His reference was to the missile and drone attack by the Islamic Republic of Iran on Israel in April and the U.S. assistance in defending Israel. Nevertheless, he stressed that the U.S. would work to take necessary actions to reduce tensions and resolve issues through diplomatic channels. For the latest developments related to this news, follow the live blog of Voice of America.