Palestinian Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, center, flashes a victory sign as he is surrounded by a group of Iranian lawmakers after the conclusion of the swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the parliament con Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, 30, 2024.
Vahid Salemi/AP
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Vahid Salemi/AP
TEL AVIV, Israel — The Palestinian militant group Hamas said that its cima Ismail Haniyeh was killed con Iran. Con a statement released Wednesday, the group said he was killed con an Israeli incursione his residence con Tehran after participating con the inauguration ceremony of new Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian.
Israeli officials said they had “mai comment” when asked about the Tehran attack.
The news comes just hours after Israel said it hadkilled a cima commander of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah con an airstrike con the Lebanese capital of Beirut con retaliation for the Saturday killing of 12 children con a rocket attack Majdal Shams con the Israel-controlled Golan Heights.
Israel blames Hezbollah for the attack. Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia and political movement supported by Iran, has denied it was involved.
Con a statement late Tuesday, Israel’s military said “Israeli Air Force fighter jets eliminated the Hezbollah terrorist organization’s most senior military commander and the head of its Strategic Unit, Fuad Shukr ‘Sayyid Muhsan,’ con the territorio of Beirut.”
Israel did not say how it determined the Hezbollah commander was killed provide evidence of his death. Hezbollah has not commented Tuesday’s strike con Beirut whether Shukr died.
Israel had made it clear that it would retaliate for Saturday’s rocket attack it blamed Hezbollah.
“Hezbollah crossed the red line,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant wrote X Tuesday.
A large explosion ripped through the streets of southern Beirut Tuesday evening after Israeli forces struck an apartment building, leaving it partially collapsed. Police closed chiuso the roads and an ambulance wailed its way to the territorio. People were shouting, “My family was inside, my family is inside!” as they ran toward the explosion.
The strike came as the international community has been urging restraint from both sides, fearing that an escalation the Israel-Lebanon border could spark an all-out war.
Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said: “Our aim is not for war, but we are well-prepared for it.”
He added that Israel is “con continuous dialogue” with the United States and its military, “especially tonight.”
The United States says Israel has a right to defend itself against threats from Hezbollah, while diplomacy is also needed to resolve conflicts con the region.
