Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps and Hamas have announced the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. This significant escalation deepens fears of an all-out war in the Middle East.
Haniyeh, the second leader of an Iran-backed militant group reported assassinated recently, was a major figure for Hamas, heading its political operations while living overseas. Hamas accused Israel of targeting Haniyeh and his bodyguard in a “strike” on his Tehran residence after he attended the new Iranian president’s inauguration.
Israel’s military did not respond to these reports, but senior officials have previously vowed to eliminate Hamas leadership in response to the group’s October 7 attack on Israel. Israel did confirm a strike in Beirut, killing Hezbollah’s top military commander, Fu’ad Shukr, escalating confrontations that began on October 8.
The exact time of Haniyeh’s killing remains unclear. Hamas had released pictures of Haniyeh meeting Iranian officials on the day of the new president’s swearing-in. The timing is especially fraught, with escalating Israel-Hezbollah confrontations and ongoing battles between Hamas and Israel in Gaza amid a humanitarian crisis.
Haniyeh’s death may impact ongoing hostage and ceasefire talks in Gaza. The White House acknowledged reports of Haniyeh’s death but withheld further comment. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, while in the Philippines, stated that war in the Middle East is not inevitable but reaffirmed US support for Israel if attacked.
Haniyeh would be the second senior Hamas leader killed since Israel’s war in Gaza began. The group previously lost Saleh Al Arouri, deputy head of its political bureau, in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. However, Hamas has endured the deaths of other key leaders, including co-founders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdel Aziz Rantisi in 2004.
CNN Political and Foreign Policy Analyst Barak Ravid indicated that while Haniyeh was not militarily significant, his death could influence ongoing negotiations. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is investigating Haniyeh’s death and will announce results later.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the killing, calling it “a cowardly act and a dangerous development,” and urged unity and steadfastness against Israeli occupation.
The deaths of Haniyeh and Hezbollah’s Shukr—leaders of different Iran-backed groups—in quick succession are significant. Brigadier General (Res.) Assaf Orion noted these deaths might prompt a response from Iran and its proxies, known as the “Axis of Resistance,” which includes groups funded and armed by Iran.
Israel’s conflict with Hamas has brought its shadow war with Iran into the open, intensifying global tensions. Though Israel hasn’t commented on Haniyeh’s death, it has a history of targeting Hamas leaders and Iranian officials. Previous Israeli operations have included airstrikes on Iranian military personnel in Syria.
Who is Ismail Haniyeh?
Ismail Haniyeh, 62, born in a refugee camp near Gaza City, joined Hamas in the late 1980s. Rising through the ranks, he became chief of the group by 2017 and was designated a “specially designated global terrorist” by the United States. He participated in peace talks and met with global leaders, including the Emir of Qatar and Chinese diplomats. Despite losing three sons and four grandchildren to Israeli airstrikes in April, Haniyeh maintained that Hamas would not back down on its demands in ceasefire and hostage talks.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNN’s Kareem Khadder and Sahar Akbarzai contributed reporting.
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