Top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated by a bomb that had been secretly smuggled into the guesthouse where he was staying in Tehran, according to a report by The New York Times (NYT). The explosive device was hidden at the guesthouse approximately two months prior to Haniyeh’s arrival.
Haniyeh had traveled to Tehran for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian and was accommodated in a guesthouse managed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in a high-end area of northern Tehran. This guesthouse had been a frequent stay for him during his visits to the Iranian capital. The bomb was detonated remotely once it was confirmed that Haniyeh was inside his room, resulting in his death along with that of a bodyguard. The explosion caused significant damage to the building, including shattered windows and the partial collapse of an exterior wall.
Initial speculation suggested that the assassination could be the result of an Israeli missile strike. However, it was later revealed that the operation capitalized on a security lapse that allowed the bomb to be planted and remain undetected for an extended period. Although Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack, Israeli intelligence officials reportedly briefed the United States and other Western nations about the operation’s details.
The U.S. government has denied any prior knowledge of the assassination plot, as stated by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. A public funeral for Haniyeh was held in Tehran on Thursday, with mourners gathering to pay their respects. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led the prayers and vowed “harsh punishment” for those responsible for Haniyeh’s killing.
Qatar is scheduled to host additional funeral ceremonies for Haniyeh on Friday, with attendance expected from Arab and Islamic leaders, Palestinian factions, and the public. The assassination occurred just hours after an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, which resulted in the death of Fuad Shukr, a Hezbollah military commander and ally of Hamas.
