Ismail Haniyeh, a senior Hamas leader, was assassinated on Wednesday at a guesthouse in Tehran, according to multiple Middle Eastern and American officials.
The attack, which killed Haniyeh and a bodyguard, was carried out using an explosive device that had been secretly planted in the guesthouse two months earlier, according to multiple reports.
The guest house, part of the Neshat compound in an upscale northern Tehran neighborhood, is operated and secured by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
The bomb was remotely detonated after confirming Haniyeh’s presence in his room. The explosion caused significant damage to the building, including shattered windows and a partially collapsed exterior wall.
Haniyeh was in Tehran for the presidential inauguration of Masoud Pezeshkian. His death, which has been attributed to Israeli involvement by both Iranian and Hamas officials, threatens to destabilize the region further and disrupt ongoing cease-fire negotiations in Gaza.
Israeli intelligence officials briefed Western governments on the operation shortly after it occurred, although Israel has not officially claimed responsibility.
The assassination has prompted speculation about the method of attack.
While initial reports suggested a missile strike, it has been confirmed that the bomb was planted within the guesthouse itself, utilizing sophisticated remote detonation technology.
This method mirrors tactics used in previous high-profile assassinations, such as that of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh in 2020.
The incident highlights a significant security breach at the heavily guarded compound, raising questions about Iran’s intelligence and security capabilities.
The IRGC, responsible for protecting the compound, faces criticism for failing to detect the planted explosives.
Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have vowed retaliation against Israel.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions and complex regional dynamics, with Haniyeh’s assassination likely to impact ongoing diplomatic efforts and the broader Middle Eastern conflict.
(With inputs from New York Times, Daily Beast, The Jerusalem Post)
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