Assassination of Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran

Assassination of Ismail Haniyeh: A Shocking Incident in Tehran

Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent leader of Hamas, was tragically assassinated on Wednesday by an explosive device that had been secretly smuggled into the Tehran guesthouse where he was staying. This revelation comes from a coalition of seven Middle Eastern officials, which includes two Iranian sources, alongside an American official.

The explosive device was discreetly hidden approximately two months prior to the attack in the guesthouse, as reported by five of the Middle Eastern officials. This guesthouse, managed and secured by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, is situated within a larger compound known as Neshat, located in an upscale neighborhood of northern Tehran.

At the time of the incident, Mr. Haniyeh was in Iran’s capital to attend the presidential inauguration. The bomb was detonated remotely once it was confirmed that he was inside his room, according to the information provided by the five officials. The explosion also resulted in the death of one of his bodyguards.

The blast was powerful enough to shake the entire building, shatter windows, and cause partial collapse of an exterior wall, as described by the two Iranian officials who are members of the Revolutionary Guards and were briefed on the incident. Evidence of such damage was corroborated by a photograph of the building that was shared with The New York Times.

Mr. Haniyeh, who had been leading Hamas’s political office in Qatar, was known to have stayed at this guesthouse during previous visits to Tehran, according to the Middle Eastern officials. All officials provided their accounts under conditions of anonymity to protect sensitive information surrounding the assassination.

Mourners gathered for a somber funeral in Tehran on Thursday to pay their respects to the slain Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh. In the aftermath of the incident, Iran has accused Israel of orchestrating his assassination.