In a televised statement, Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed that Hamas' political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran by a short-range projectile and blamed the attack on Israel, with alleged support from the United States. The statement called for retaliation and accused the "warmongering and terrorist Zionist regime" of facing severe consequences in due time.

According to the Revolutionary Guard, a rocket carrying a seven-kilogram warhead targeted the residence of Hamas' political leader in the Iranian capital, causing significant damage. However, specific details regarding the location of the residence were not disclosed.

While Israel has not confirmed or denied its involvement in the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the country had previously expressed its intent to target him and other Hamas leaders in response to the group's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which triggered the Gaza conflict.

The assassination of Haniyeh has raised concerns about the potential escalation of regional tensions and the possibility of direct confrontation between Israel and Iran if Tehran decides to retaliate. In April of this year, Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones at Israel, with the latter claiming to have successfully intercepted 99% of them. This attack came shortly after a suspected Israeli strike in Syria resulted in the deaths of two Iranian generals. It marked the first time that Iran directly carried out a military assault on Israel, despite decades of animosity rooted in the Islamic Revolution of 1979.

Iran, which does not recognize Israel's existence, has consistently supported anti-Israeli militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The international community closely monitors the developments in the region, as any further escalation has the potential to spark a broader conflict with far-reaching consequences.