Thousands Gather for Funeral of Hamas Leader Killed in Iran
Thousands of mourners have gathered in Iran for the funeral procession of Hamas political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a strike in Tehran on Wednesday. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is leading the prayers before Haniyeh is buried in Qatar.
US media have reported that Iranian officials claim the supreme leader has ordered a direct attack against Israel in retaliation for the strike on Iranian soil. Israel has not directly commented on the assassination, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of “challenging days ahead” as tensions in the region escalate.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned against a “dangerous escalation” of hostilities in the Middle East, as fears of a wider conflict grow. Hamas’s armed wing has vowed to “take the battle to new dimensions” following Haniyeh’s death.
The killing of Haniyeh comes just hours after he attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president in Tehran. A senior Hamas official told the BBC that the attack took place in the same building where Haniyeh had stayed during previous visits to Iran, with three other Hamas leaders and guards present.
Israel has also claimed responsibility for the killing of senior Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr in Beirut, whom they believe was responsible for a recent rocket attack in the Golan Heights. Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the attack.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, the international community is closely monitoring the situation to prevent further escalation of violence.
