Hamas’ Haniyeh killed by short-range projectile: Iran
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say Palestinian militant group Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh was slain in Tehran by a short-range projectile with a warhead of about 7kg, and vowed severe revenge.
Wednesday’s assassination has drawn fears of direct conflict between Iran and its arch-enemy Israel in a region shaken by Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip and a worsening conflict in Lebanon.
Revenge for the killing of the Hamas leader will be “severe and at an appropriate time, place, and manner,” the Guards’ statement added, blaming the “terrorist Zionist regime” of Israel for his death.
Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of carrying out the strike that killed Haniyeh hours after he attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president.
Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility.
The statement by the elite Guards force also accused the “criminal US government” of supporting the attack which Iranian media said was in a northern suburb of Tehran.
Iranian authorities had previously rejected all speculation about the method used in the attack on Haniyeh.
US media had reported that Haniyeh was killed by an explosive device that was placed in the guest house two months before he travelled to Tehran.
Haniyeh was buried on Friday in Qatar, where he was based.
with DPA
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