Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas leader, was killed in Tehran, and new eyewitness accounts suggest he was hit by a missile, not a bomb. This contradicts an earlier report by the New York Times, which claimed Haniyeh was killed by a bomb planted in the guesthouse months before. The eyewitnesses’ accounts match the findings from the GGI analysis of the assassination.
In Tehran, a high-security building where top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was staying was rocked by a deadly explosion. Three people who were in the building during the attack have shared new details, suggesting that Haniyeh was killed by a missile, not a bomb.
According to these witnesses, they heard what sounded like a missile before a massive explosion shook the building. One of them, who was staying close to Haniyeh’s room, said the damage looked like it came from a missile strike. The other two witnesses, from different floors, reported seeing the ceiling and wall of Haniyeh’s room partially collapse.
Haniyeh, a key figure in Hamas and involved in talks for a possible ceasefire in Gaza, was killed on Wednesday along with his bodyguard Wasim Abu Shaaban. This happened shortly after they attended a ceremony for Iran’s new President, Masoud Pezeshkian.
The attack came just hours after another high-profile assassination in Beirut, where Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr was killed. This sequence of events has raised fears of escalating conflict in the region.
The building where Haniyeh was staying, near Tehran’s Saadabad palace, was heavily guarded by Iran’s Republican Guards (IRGC). It’s located on a hillside with few other buildings around it, making it a well-secured area.
Hamas official Khalil Al-Hayya confirmed that Haniyeh was struck by a missile and stressed that although neither Hamas nor Iran wanted a wider war, revenge was needed.
There’s been confusion over the details of Haniyeh’s death. Initial reports suggested a bomb might have been planted in his room months earlier, but the IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency now suggests a missile was used. Israel has not officially claimed responsibility, but they did acknowledge a recent strike in Lebanon.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned of severe consequences for Israel following Shukr’s killing, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to respond strongly to any further attacks.
The assassination of Haniyeh complicates efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza. With ongoing violence and a heavy toll on civilians, both sides are bracing for more conflict. In Gaza, residents are struggling to survive amidst the violence and displacement.
In response to the situation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for urgent action to break the cycle of violence, emphasizing that the choices made in the coming days will be crucial for the future of the region.
In the midst of this turmoil, people in Gaza, facing daily hardships, have expressed their exhaustion and frustration. As Nermine Basel, a displaced Palestinian, put it, “What’s new about this? We’ve been under attack for months.”
