How Was Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Killed? Here’s What We Know So Far
On Jul 31, 2024, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was reportedly killed in Tehran. The news broke through various channels, including Iranian state media and the Palestinian militant group Hamas itself. Here is a detailed account of what has been reported so far:
The Incident
According to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Haniyeh was killed in what has been described as an Israeli “raid” on his residence. Hamas quickly confirmed the news, attributing the attack to an Israeli airstrike. The Associated Press also reported that Hamas placed the blame squarely on Israel, stating that Haniyeh was killed “in a Zionist airstrike on his residence in Tehran.”
Circumstances and Speculations
At the time of the incident, Ismail Haniyeh had been in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. He was reportedly accompanied by other Hamas and Hezbollah officials. The details surrounding the attack are still under investigation, but several media outlets, including the Times of Israel, have cited an Iranian source suggesting that a missile fired from outside Iran was responsible for the attack. The source emphasized that the missile was not launched from within Iranian territory.
Official Responses
Initially, the IRGC stated that they were still investigating the incident and could not confirm the exact circumstances of the attack. However, Iranian media eventually confirmed that Haniyeh had been killed by an airstrike. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that Haniyeh was staying in a special residence for war veterans in north Tehran when he was “martyred by an air-launched missile.”
Also Read: Dr. S. Jaishankar: A Diplomatic Journey and Insights from ‘The India Way’
Conclusion
While the full details of the attack are still being pieced together, the reported death of Ismail Haniyeh marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and the complex web of alliances and hostilities in the region.
As more information becomes available, the true nature and implications of this event will likely unfold, shedding light on the broader geopolitical ramifications.