Iranian state television and the Revolutionary Guards announced early on July 31, 2024, the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
“The residence of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political bureau of the Islamic resistance of Hamas, was hit in Tehran, and as a result […] he and one of his bodyguards died as martyrs,” the Revolutionary Guards stated on their news website Sepah.
Haniyeh had met with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei a few hours earlier. He was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of the new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
Hamas has claimed that its leader was killed in an Israeli air strike against his residence. Citing an Iranian source, the Lebanese news channel Al Mayadeen reported that Haniyeh was killed by a missile launched from outside Iran.
Turkey and Russia condemned the attack, which they stated would lead to an escalation of tensions.
“We condemn the assassination of the head of the Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, in a despicable act in Tehran,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement, noting that “this attack also aims to extend the war in Gaza to a regional dimension.”
This incident comes a day after a “targeted strike” by Israel in Beirut. Israel stated the strike targeted Hezbollah commander Fouad Chokr in response to a shooting in the Golan Heights that resulted in the deaths of twelve Israeli children. According to the Lebanese health ministry, the strike killed three people and wounded 74.