Which neighboring country of Iran has been used to launch the missile strike to assassinate Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran early Wednesday morning?
This crucial aspect of the killing of Hamas chief is being discussed by the security analysts and the inner circles of Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
As the Iranian leaders are holding an urgent meeting at this time, it is expected that they would be able to find out their neighboring country involved in the missile strike.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Nournews reported that Ismail Haniyeh’s residence was struck by an “airborne projectile,” suggesting it was hit by a missile.
“Further investigations are underway to determine the details of this terrorist operation,” the report added.
The Iranian government has launched an investigation into the killing, with results expected to be released soon.
A statement from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s Sepah news website confirmed that “the residence of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political office of Hamas Islamic Resistance, was hit in Tehran, resulting in the martyrdom of him and one of his bodyguards.” Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.
A top Hamas official condemned the assassination as a “cowardly act that will not go unpunished,” according to Hamas-run Al-Aqsa TV.
No one has immediately claimed responsibility for the assassination, but suspicion quickly fell on Israel, which has vowed to kill Haniyeh and other Hamas leaders. Israel has already targeted many of Haniyeh’s close and extended family members during its ongoing operations in Gaza.
Analysts on Iranian state television have pointed fingers at Israel for the attack.
Emergency meeting in Iran
Meanwhile, Iranian leaders are holding an emergency meeting of their Supreme National Security Council at the residence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to a report by the New York Times, which cites two Iranian officials.
The report highlights that such a meeting occurs only under “extraordinary circumstances.”
Esmail Ghaani, the commander of the Quds Force, which oversees Iran’s proxy groups, is also in attendance, the report states.
Iran state TV has reportedly said that the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh could delay the Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal by several months and provoke retaliation from Iran-backed groups in the region.
The report notes that statements from Iran state TV typically reflect the views of Khamenei and the government.
Earlier, Palestinian group Hamas has released a statement following the assassination of its political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran.
“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. [And do not think of those who are killed in the way of God as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.]
The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas mourns the loss of our great Palestinian people, the Arab and Islamic nation, and all the free people of the world: brother, leader, martyr, and Mujahid Ismail Haniyeh.
Our leader was killed in a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran after attending the inauguration of the new Iranian president.
To God we belong, and to Him we shall return. Our struggle continues, with victory or martyrdom as our ultimate goal.”
Meanwhile, Hamas has described the assassination of senior leader Ismail Haniyeh as a “grave escalation.”
Al-Aqsa TV reported that senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk called the assassination a “cowardly act that will not go unpunished.”
Both Hamas and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard confirmed Haniyeh’s death during his visit to Iran, with Hamas stating that Israel targeted his residence in Tehran.
Earlier, Ismail Haniyeh, the chief of Palestinian resistance group Hamas, has been killed in Iran, according to a statement from Hamas and Iranian officials.
Hamas said its leader was killed early on Wednesday following an Israeli missile attack targeting his residence in Tehran.
