Ismail Haniyeh, was killed earlier this week by a “short-range projectile”

Tehran August 03, 2024 (QJ) -The political leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed earlier this week by a “short-range projectile” fired from outside the residence he was staying at in Tehran, according to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In a statement released on Saturday, the IRGC claimed that, based on preliminary investigations, the attack on Haniyeh was carried out by a short-range missile carrying approximately 7kg (15.4lb) of explosives, launched from a location outside the guest house.

The IRGC added that Israel would face “severe punishment at a time and place of its choosing” for Haniyeh’s assassination, which it accused the “criminal state” of the United States of supporting.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement, while the U.S. stated it was “unaware of or involved in” Haniyeh’s killing, which threatens to further escalate tensions in the Middle East amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.

The Palestinian leader and his guards were killed at the Iranian government guest house in Tehran early Wednesday.

Haniyeh was in the Iranian capital to attend the inauguration of Masoud Pezeshkian, who was recently elected in Iran.