Ismail Haniyeh, the top leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, recently passed away in an attack in Tehran, Iran. This happened early yesterday morning. Both Hamas and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran have announced his death in separate statements. BBC and Reuters reported the news.

Hamas already reported that an Israeli operation targeted Ismail Haniyeh at his residence in Tehran.

Haniyeh also had traveled to Tehran to attend the inauguration of new Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian. In the attack, one of his bodyguards also lost his life. The Revolutionary Guard Corps told they are investigating the incident happaned and the will release details soon about it. BBC reported that Israel did not immediately comment on Haniyeh’s passing. The Israeli military stated that it does not comment on foreign media reports, but some Israeli politicians reacted to his passing. Israel’s Minister of Heritage, Amichai Eliyahu announced on social media post that Haniyeh’s death has contributed to global security issues.

How did Ismail Haniyeh die

In June, Israeli airstrikes targeted Haniyeh’s family home, as a result his sister and at least 10 others passing away. Earlier in April 2024, Israeli airstrikes on Eid al-Fitr resulted in the deaths of Haniyeh’s three sons and several grandchildren.

Haniyeh had been living in exile in Doha, Qatar, for last several years. He was involved in indirect negotiations with Israel concerning a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages.

Hamas reported that Haniyeh was affected in a covert Zionist operation at his home in Tehran.

However, the Iranian state media did not provide any detailed information about how he was affected. But Saudi news agencies Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath reported that Haniyeh was affected by a missile attack. Some sources confirmed to Al-Hadath that he was affected at around 2 PM Tehran local time, with a direct missile strike on his residence resulting in him and his bodyguard also being affected.