Ismail Haniyeh, a senior leader of Hamas, was assassinated by an explosive device covertly smuggled into the Tehran guesthouse where he was staying, according to a report by the New York Times (NYT) citing officials. The bomb had been planted around two months prior to his arrival.
Haniyeh had traveled to Iran’s capital for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian. He was staying at a guesthouse managed and protected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in an upscale neighborhood of northern Tehran, a location he frequently used during his visits to the city.
Officials told NYT that the bomb was detonated remotely once it was confirmed that Haniyeh was inside his room, resulting in his death and that of a bodyguard. The explosion shook the building, shattered some windows, and caused the partial collapse of an exterior wall.
Initial speculation centered on the possibility of an Israeli missile strike, but it was later revealed that the operation exploited a security lapse that allowed the bomb to be planted and remain undetected for weeks.
While Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility for the assassination, NYT reported that Israeli intelligence officials briefed the United States and other Western governments on the operation’s details. However, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the United States was not informed in advance about the assassination plot.
A public funeral ceremony for Haniyeh was held in Tehran on Thursday, where crowds of mourners gathered to pay their respects. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led prayers for Haniyeh, having earlier threatened “harsh punishment” for those responsible for his killing.
Qatar is set to hold funeral ceremonies for Haniyeh on Friday, with Arab and Islamic leaders, representatives of other Palestinian factions, and members of the public expected to attend, reported AFP.
The assassination of Haniyeh occurred just hours after Israel conducted an airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, killing Fuad Shukr, a military commander of Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas.
