Hamas political leader killed in Iranian capital

An airstrike early Wednesday morning killed Ismail Haniyeh at a residence while he visited Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s new president, according to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Haniyeh had been living in Qatar and was the top political figure for the Hamas terrorist group. He led the group’s international relations and was involved in ongoing negotiations for a cease-fire in Gaza.

An International Criminal Court prosecutor in May filed arrest warrants for Ismail Haniyeh and two other top Hamas leaders. The prosecutor accused the men of war crimes in connection with the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Who is responsible? Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed what he called the Zionist regime for killing Haniyeh, who he said was a guest in Iran. He threatened that a severe punishment could come in response.

Hamas officials also accused Israel of killing Haniyeh, telling Reuters news agency that the assassination was a dangerous escalation in the war. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack.

The airstrike occurred hours after Israel said it killed Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s most senior military commander, in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. The Israel Defense Forces said Shukr had directed Hezbollah’s recent attacks on Israel and that he orchestrated a Saturday airstrike on the Golan Heights that killed 12 children at a soccer game.

How has the international community responded to the strike in Iran? Iran’s Khamenei vowed to take revenge for Haniyeh’s death. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani questioned how mediation could continue if one side assassinates the other’s negotiator. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States was not involved in the attack, and National Security Council Spokeswoman Adrienne Watson on Tuesday reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and regional peace.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grue’s report on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress.