Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a pre-dawn airstrike in Tehran on Wednesday, according to both Iranian and Hamas sources. The attack has been attributed to Israel and is expected to heighten regional tensions as the U.S. and other countries attempt to avert a broader conflict. Iran’s supreme leader has vowed retaliation against Israel.
Israel has yet to comment on the incident, but it has previously indicated its intention to target Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders in response to the group’s October 7 assault on southern Israel. The strike occurred shortly after Haniyeh attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president in Tehran and just hours after Israel targeted a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut.
The killing of Haniyeh, the highest-ranking political figure in Hamas, is highly provocative due to its timing, location, and potential repercussions. The assassination could potentially spark a direct conflict between Iran and Israel if Iran decides to retaliate.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned the attack, stating that Israel had “prepared a harsh punishment for itself” by killing “a dear guest in our home.”
Earlier this year, Israel and Iran came close to full-scale war after Israel struck Iran’s embassy in Damascus in April, prompting Iranian retaliation and a series of reciprocal attacks. Efforts by the international community managed to prevent further escalation at that time.
Haniyeh’s assassination may complicate ongoing cease-fire negotiations and efforts to secure the release of hostages in the Gaza conflict, which U.S. mediators had reported were making progress.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah are also at risk of intensifying. Following a rocket attack in the Golan Heights that killed 12 young people, Israel targeted a Hezbollah commander in Beirut. Hezbollah, which denies involvement in the Golan attack, reported that it was still searching for the body of the commander, Fouad Shukur, among the casualties from the Israeli strike.
The White House has not yet responded to the news of Haniyeh’s death. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the U.S. was unaware of or involved in the strike, while Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed hope for a diplomatic resolution to the Israeli-Lebanese border tensions.
Diplomats are concerned that the simultaneous strikes in Beirut and Tehran could jeopardize ongoing cease-fire efforts and potentially lead to a wider regional conflict. Blinken later emphasized the importance of pursuing a cease-fire in discussions with Qatar’s prime minister.
Israel’s military and government have not commented on the strike against Haniyeh, and the Israeli Defense Minister indicated a readiness for all potential scenarios without specifically addressing the assassination.
Haniyeh had been living in exile in Qatar since leaving Gaza in 2019. The strike in Tehran marks a significant escalation compared to previous Israeli actions against Hamas figures in Lebanon and Syria. Historically, Israel has also been involved in covert operations against Iranian nuclear scientists.
During his final hours, Haniyeh attended the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian and met with various regional leaders. The airstrike targeted his residence, killing him and one of his bodyguards.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned of severe consequences for Israel, and an emergency meeting of an Iranian parliamentary committee is scheduled to address the situation.
Hamas has stated that the assassination will have significant repercussions, potentially expanding the conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue military operations in Gaza until Hamas is dismantled, despite the extensive casualties reported.
The killing of Haniyeh could have broader regional impacts, potentially escalating attacks through Iran’s allies in the “Axis of Resistance,” including Hezbollah, Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, and Houthi rebels in Yemen. Recent attacks have targeted U.S. bases in the region, with a strike near Baghdad killing members of an Iranian-backed militia.
