Tehran Mourns as Hamas Leader Haniyeh is Killed by Suspected Israeli Attack

Monday 05 August 2024 - 11:50

Iran Vows Retaliation for the Deadly Strike on Prominent Hamas Figure

In a move that has escalated regional tensions, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a “short-range projectile with a warhead of about 7kg” outside his residence. The IRGC has vowed that Israel will face severe consequences for this targeted attack.

The IRGC's statement on Saturday revealed that the projectile, laden with explosive materials, was launched from an external location near the guest residence in Tehran. The Iranian military branch has attributed the assassination to the “Zionist regime,” supported by the “criminal government of the US.”

Condemning the attack as a deliberate act of aggression, the IRGC has promised a “harsh punishment” for Israel, although specifics regarding the timing or nature of the retaliation remain undisclosed.

Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed earlier this week in Tehran while attending the inauguration of Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian. His death has sent shockwaves through the region, eliciting widespread international reactions.

A funeral service for Haniyeh was held yesterday at a mosque in Qatar, attended by numerous foreign dignitaries including Turkiye’s Vice-President Cevdet Yilmaz and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The ceremony also saw the presence of prominent figures from both Hamas and their Palestinian rivals Fatah, alongside members of Haniyeh’s family.

Haniyeh’s final resting place is in Lusail, a city north of Doha. His untimely death has ignited global protests and strong denunciations, particularly in the Arab world. In Morocco, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Rabat on Saturday to protest Haniyeh’s assassination and condemn Israeli actions in Gaza.

This incident comes amidst a period of heightened tension and has further strained an already volatile geopolitical landscape, raising concerns about potential escalations in the region.