Reports from Iranian state media, Press TV, suggest that Hamas political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has been reportedly assassinated in Tehran, as confirmed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Having served as the exiled political chief of the militant group, Haniyeh predominantly resided in Qatar in recent years.
He was actively involved in ceasefire negotiations and maintained communication with Hamas’s primary supporter, Iran, during the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Following his participation in the inauguration of the new Iranian president, Hamas released a statement indicating that Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed in what they described as a “Zionist raid” on his residence in Tehran.
CNN’s latest updates mention the uncertainty surrounding the timing of Haniyeh’s death and their attempts to receive a statement from the Israeli military in response to Hamas’ allegations.
Earlier this year, Hamas reported that Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of three of Haniyeh’s sons and four of his grandchildren in an attack in April.