Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh killed in Iran

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in the early hours of the morning in Iran, the Palestinian group said on Wednesday, drawing fears of wider escalation in a region shaken by Israel's war in Gaza and a worsening conflict in Lebanon.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed the death of Haniyeh, hours after he attended a swearing in ceremony for the country's new president, and said it was investigating.

Iran state media nournews said that the Hamas leader was assassinated at 2 a.m. while staying in a residence for war veterans in Tehran.

There was no immediate comment from Israel. The Israeli military said it was conducting a situational assessment but had not issued any new security guidelines for civilians.

Official reactions

Palestinian presidency

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today condemned the assassination of Haniyeh, calling it a "cowardly act" and urging Palestinians to unite against Israel.

In a statement from the presidency, Abbas said:

"The President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, strongly condemned the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, calling it a cowardly act and a dangerous development."

He called on "our people and their forces to unite, be patient, and stand firm against the Israeli occupation."

Turkish foreign ministry

"It has been revealed once again that the Netanyahu Government has no intention of achieving peace .. We offer our condolences to the Palestinian people who have given hundreds of thousands of martyrs like Haniyeh in order to live in peace in their own homeland, under the roof of their own state."

Russia

RIA cited Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov saying:

"This is an absolutely unacceptable political murder, and it will lead to further escalation of tensions."

United States

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington would work to try to ease tensions, but said the U.S. would help defend Israel if it were attacked.

The aftermath

News of Haniyeh's killing came less than 24 hours after Israel claimed to have killed a Hezbollah commander in Beirut in response to a deadly strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The recent escalation appears to set back any chances of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

"This assassination by the Israeli occupation of Brother Haniyeh is a grave escalation that aims to break the will of Hamas," senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said.

Iran's top security body is expected to meet to decide on its strategy in response to the death of Haniyeh, a close ally of Tehran, said a source familiar with the meeting.

Meanwhile, Palestinian factions in the occupied West Bank called for a general strike and mass demonstrations.

Haniyeh, who was based in Qatar, was considered the face of the Palestinian group's international diplomacy as the war, which began on October 7, continued to ravage Gaza. In April, an Israeli airstrike claimed the lives of three of his sons.

Appointed to a top position in Hamas in 2017, Haniyeh moved between Turkey and Qatar's capital, Doha, bypassing the travel restrictions of the blockaded Gaza Strip and allowing him to act as a negotiator in ceasefire talks or to engage in talks with Hamas' ally Iran.

The assassination of Haniyeh comes as Israel's campaign in Gaza approaches the end of its 10th month with no sign of an end to a conflict that has shaken the Middle East and threatened to spiral into a wider regional conflict.