Hamas leader killed in Iran by an alleged Israeli airstrike

RAISING FEARS OF REGIONAL ESCALATION

In a startling development that threatens to further inflame tensions in the Middle East, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a predawn airstrike in Tehran on Wednesday. Both Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel for the assassination, which occurred just hours after Haniyeh attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed revenge against Israel, stating: “We consider his revenge as our duty.” Khamenei warned that Israel had “prepared a harsh punishment for itself ” by killing “a dear guest in our home.”

There was no immediate comment from Israel.

The assassination comes at a particularly volatile time in the region. Just hours earlier, Israel had targeted a top commander of Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group, in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. This series of strikes in multiple countries has alarmed international diplomats working to prevent further escalation.

A Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the strikes in Beirut and Tehran have “almost killed” hopes for a Gaza cease-fire and could push the Middle East into a “devastating regional war.”