Hamas’s top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has been killed in Iran, the group has confirmed.
According Sky News, Iranian state media, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reported that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were assassinated in Tehran.
In a statement, Hamas attributed his death to “a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran.”
While no one immediately claimed responsibility, Israel had previously vowed to target Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders following the group’s attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages being taken.
Since the conflict began, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza has reported over 39,360 Palestinian deaths and more than 90,900 injuries, without distinguishing between civilians and combatants.
Earlier in 2024, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed three of Haniyeh’s sons, with the Israeli military stating that two were Hamas military operatives and the third a cell commander.
This incident follows an Israeli military claim of killing a senior Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut.
The IDF stated Shukr, who was closely associated with Hezbollah’s secretary general Hassan Nasrallah, was “responsible for the murder of the children in Majdal Shams” during a rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant remarked on social media that Hezbollah “crossed the red line.”
The Lebanese Red Cross reported that the strike on a residential building killed at least two and injured 20.
Security sources confirmed the target was Fouad Shukr, also known as Al-Hajj Mohsen, and the IDF claimed he was killed in the strike.
A U.S. official noted that the United States was given advanced notice of Israel’s strike, with communication through security channels and limited operational detail shared.
Vice President Kamala Harris affirmed that “Israel has the right to defend itself against a terrorist organization, which is exactly what Hezbollah is,” while also emphasizing the importance of pursuing a diplomatic solution.
State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel added, “We have been in continuous discussions with Israeli and Lebanese counterparts since the incident over the weekend, and the United States is going to continue to support efforts to reach a diplomatic solution along the blue line.” He reiterated that “our support for Israel’s security is ironclad, and it’s unwavering, especially as it defends itself against Iran-backed threats, including threats from Hezbollah.”
