Hamas Politburo Chief Killed in Tehran
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Hamas politburo chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in the Iranian capital of Tehran, the Palestinian militant group said in a statement on Wednesday.
SputnikThe agency said Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were "martyred" after their residence in Tehran was targeted.
"With condolences to the heroic nation of Palestine, the Islamic nation, the combatants of the Resistance Front, and the noble nation of Iran. This morning (Wednesday), the residence of Mr. Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political office of the Islamic Resistance of Hamas, was hit in Tehran; and following this incident, he and one of his bodyguards were martyred," a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) read.
Iran is investigating the cause of the killing of Hamas politburo chief, Ismail Haniyeh, and his bodyguard in Tehran, with the results to be announced soon, the Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Earlier on Wednesday, the Palestinian movement, Hamas, said that Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli attack on his residence in Tehran, after he took part in the inauguration of Iran's newly elected president.
The Palestinian movement, Hamas, said on Wednesday that the movement’s politburo chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an Israeli attack on his residence in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
"The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas expresses condolences to the sons of our great Palestinian people ... Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement ... was killed as a result of a treacherous Zionist attack on his residence in Tehran after he participated in the inauguration ceremony of the new president of Iran," the movement said on Telegram.
Iran's new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, was sworn in on Tuesday.
International reaction
Supreme Leader of Iran said Israel will be severely punished for its actions.
Israeli army declines to comment on the situation, saying that they “do not respond to reports in the foreign media," CNN says.
A representative of the US government has confirmed to the media that Washington is aware of the situation.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas strongly condemned the killing of Hamas politburo chief, Ismail Haniyeh, the WAFA news agency reported on Wednesday.
Abbas also called the killing a cowardly act and a dangerous escalation, the report read.
At the same time, Abbas called on Palestinians to be united and patient in the face of the Israeli occupation.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the incident will strengthen the ties between Tehran and Palestine. The Turkish Foreign Ministry stressed that Israel is not seeking peace, and should be stopped before the conflict escalates.
The killing of Hamas politburo chief, Ismail Haniyeh, is a cowardly act that will not go unanswered, Hamas political office deputy head, Musa Abu Marzouk, said on Wednesday.
"The assassination of leader, Ismail Haniyeh, is a cowardly act, and it will not go unanswered," Marzouk said, as quoted by the Al-Aqsa broadcaster.
Qatar strongly condemns the killing of Hamas politburo chief, Ismail Haniyeh, and considers it a dangerous escalation and blatant violation of international law, its foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
"The State of Qatar condemns, in the strongest terms, the murder of the head of the political bureau of the Hamas movement, Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, in the Iranian capital Tehran. (Qatar) considers it a cynical crime, a dangerous development of events, and a blatant violation of international law," the statement read.
The killing of Hamas politburo chief, Ismail Haniyeh, is a heinous terrorist crime, a member of the Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as Houthis' high political council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, said on Wednesday.
"The attack on him is a heinous terrorist crime, a blatant violation of laws and moral values," al-Houthi said on X.
Beijing strongly condemns killing of Hamas politburo chief, Ismail Haniyeh, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said on Wednesday.
"We are paying increased attention to the incident; (we) strongly oppose and condemn the murder, and are deeply concerned that this incident could lead to greater instability of the situation in the region," Lin said.
Russia Warns About Further Mideast Escalation
Moscow considers the death of Hamas politburo chief, Ismail Haniyeh, to be an example of absolutely unacceptable political assassination, which threatens further escalation in the region, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Sputnik on Wednesday.
"This is all very wrong. This is an absolutely unacceptable political assassination that will lead to further escalations of tensions," Bogdanov said.
The incident will have a very negative impact on the Doha negotiations, the diplomat said.