Ismail Haniyeh, Head of Hamas Political Bureau, Killed in Tehran After Attending Medicalian's Inauguration

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran has reported the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political bureau of the extremist group Hamas, who was in Tehran. In a statement early Wednesday, the IRGC said that Haniyeh's residence in Tehran was struck, resulting in his death along with one of his bodyguards. The statement does not provide further details about the incident, only mentioning that information regarding the cause and extent of the event will be communicated. Mr. Haniyeh had met with Masoud Beijani, the President of Iran, and Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, a day before this incident, where Beijani assured Haniyeh that the Islamic Republic's support for Hamas would continue 'with greater strength and power.' Haniyeh also emphasized during his meeting with Khamenei that the ongoing Gaza war, which has lasted for three hundred days, has reached a 'sensitive and historic phase' and that Hamas forces 'must consolidate their victory.' Hamas, in a statement referencing Haniyeh's attendance at Beijani's inauguration, claimed that Israel targeted him. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) published parts of this statement, which said: 'Brother Mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the movement, was martyred as a result of the treacherous attack by the Zionists on his residence in Tehran after attending the inauguration of the new President of Iran.' In another report, IRNA cited statements from Mousa Abu Marzouk, a member of Hamas's political bureau, who emphasized that the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh 'will not go unanswered.' Abu Marzouk stated: 'The assassination of Commander Ismail Haniyeh is a cowardly act and will not go unanswered.' The Israeli government has not yet commented on this incident, but it has been accused of assassinating several Iranian nuclear scientists. The peak of confrontation between Iran and Israel occurred in late April of this year when an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus led to the death of Mohammad Reza Zahidi, a senior commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, and several other IRGC officers. Iran subsequently retaliated with hundreds of suicide drones and cruise and ballistic missiles targeting Israeli territory. Ismail Haniyeh, who was appointed as the head of Hamas's political bureau in 2017, traveled between Turkey and Qatar, allowing him to participate in ceasefire negotiations or discussions with Iran due to his distance from the Gaza blockade.