Hamas Confirms Political Leader Haniyeh Killed in Iran

Last updated on August 7th, 2024 at 04:27 pm

Hamas has announced its political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an attack on Tuesday, July 30, while visiting Iran.

The Palestinian faction announced Haniyeh was killed by a bomb at a residence in Tehran. A Hamas-affiliated social media account attributed the bombing to “Zionist” actors, referring to Israel.

Haniyeh had been in Iran to commemorate the inauguration of the country’s newly-elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian. Following the attack, Pezeshkian issued a statement mourning the Hamas leader’s death, stating, “Yesterday, I raised his victorious hand, and today, I must carry him on my shoulders for his funeral procession.”

Pezeshkian continued his statement with a vow that “the Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity, dignity, honor, and pride, and it will make the terrorist invaders regret their cowardly actions.”

The Israeli government has not claimed responsibility for the Hamas political leader’s death.

The strike on Haniyeh came the same day Israeli forces reported killing Hezbollah militia commander Fuad Shukr in a strike in Beirut, Lebanon. The Israeli government had insisted Hezbollah was responsible for a deadly blast in Majdal Shams, in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights, killing 12 Druze children and injuring dozens more at a soccer pitch on July 27. The Israeli military insisted Shukr played a role in the Majdal Shams blast.

Israel has attributed the Majdal Shams blast to a Hezbollah rocket impact. Hezbollah has denied responsibility for the deadly blast, instead attributing it to a misfired Israeli air defense missile.

Reuters reported, citing unnamed medical and security sources, that the Israeli strike in Beirut killed a woman and two children. Hezbollah has confirmed Shukr was in the residential building that Israeli aircraft struck on Tuesday, but has yet to confirm his death. On their official news website, Hezbollah stated Lebanese authorities are still sifting through the rubble from the Tuesday strike, to determine Shukr’s whereabouts.

Israeli forces have fought with Hamas throughout the Gaza Strip for nearly 10 months. In that time, Hezbollah and Israeli forces have repeatedly traded fire across the Israel-Lebanon border.

In June, the Israeli military announced it had prepared a battle plan for an offensive into Lebanon. The cross-border fighting has intensified since then, but Israel has yet to press the attack.

President Joe Biden’s administration has backed Israel’s assessment that Hezbollah is responsible for the Majdal Shams attack. Still, the Biden administration has urged against Israel becoming involved in a second war front while the Gaza offensive continues.