Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh and a bodyguard were killed in Tehran after a bomb, smuggled into a guesthouse two months prior, was detonated.
The guesthouse, guarded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, served as a venue for secret meetings and hosting important visitors. The device was hidden in anticipation of Haniyeh’s arrival for the swearing-in of Iran’s president.
On the day of the attack, assassins remotely triggered the bomb while Haniyeh was inside, resulting in his death and the death of his bodyguard. Hamas described the incident as a “treacherous Zionist raid” and labelled it a significant escalation. The attack disrupted peace talks and threatened further violence.
Israeli officials have not claimed responsibility, although they reportedly discussed the operation with Western allies. U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken denied American foreknowledge of the plot. The successful smuggling of the bomb into such a secure location underscores significant security gaps.
Rumours initially suggested a missile strike, but the minimal damage pointed to a smaller-scale operation. Reports indicated that the bomb was in place for months, part of a meticulously planned operation that spared adjacent areas, including the room of another Palestinian leader.
This assassination has embarrassed Iranian security, still uncertain about the specifics of the bomb’s placement. Following the attack, Mossad chief David Barnea reaffirmed a commitment to targeting Hamas leaders, reminiscent of historical operations following the Munich massacre.
