Former Hamas Politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh.
Iran says former Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed by ‘Israeli’ missile; not “sabotage”
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps asserted that the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh was carried out by a missile
- Iran's Supreme National Security Council agreed on the necessity of a response, but left the timing to the Iranian Armed Forces.
The spokesman for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the assassination of former Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was not the result of any “internal sabotage”.
Ali Mohammad Naeini added that Haniyeh was targeted by a missile fired from a specific distance, which directly hit the window and then impacted his body.
He noted the strike occurred while Haniyeh was on the phone, and the missile came from the direction Haniyeh was facing.
Iran's National Security Council Agrees to Retaliation
The spokesman explained that following the assassination, Iran's Supreme National Security Council agreed on the necessity of a retaliatory strike, leaving the timing of the response to the Iranian Armed Forces.
He indicated this decision came after resolving issues that faced "True Promise 1," Iran's April 2024 missile and drone attack on ‘Israel’.
He also asserted that the IRGC Aerospace Forces accomplished the equivalent of a full year's work between the "True Promise 1 and 2" operations in just two months.
Context of Haniyeh's Death
The spokesman announced that Haniyeh and his companion were martyred on July 31, following his participation in the inauguration ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Haniyeh was one of the most prominent leaders of the Hamas movement, having served as head of its political bureau, and played a pivotal role in managing the movement's political and military affairs in recent years.
