BREAKING: Hamas Leader Ismail Haniyeh Assassinated in Tehran

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, where he had travelled to attend the inauguration of Iran's new president, Massoud Pezzekian.

The Palestinian movement announced the news early Wednesday, describing it as a "sneaky Zionist raid." Iran has not disclosed the details of Haniyeh's death.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Qanaani stated that Haniyeh's "martyrdom" would strengthen the bonds between Iran, Palestine, and the resistance. Turkey condemned the assassination, asserting that it aimed to regionalise the conflict in Gaza. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov labelled the act as "unacceptable" and predicted an escalation of tensions.

Hamas announced that Haniyeh was killed in his office in Tehran, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the assassination. Yemeni Houthi leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi called it a "terrorist crime," while Hamas official Musa Abu Marzouk vowed that Israel's "cowardly act" would not go unpunished.

Haniyeh's assassination follows an Israeli airstrike in April that killed three of his sons and four of his grandchildren. Israel, which has vowed to annihilate Hamas, has not commented on the assassination. The incident occurs as the Biden administration seeks a temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, with CIA Director Bill Burns recently meeting officials from Israel, Qatar, and Egypt.

In related news, Israel recently claimed responsibility for a strike in Beirut that reportedly killed Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur, though Hezbollah has not confirmed his death.