Iranians gathered in Tehran to mourn the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in the capital city, raising tensions between Iran and Israel.
Key Points
- Funeral and Mourning:
- Thousands of mourners attended Haniyeh’s funeral at Tehran University on Thursday.
- Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led the prayers, with the crowd chanting “Death to Israel” and “Death to America.”
- Haniyeh’s body will be flown to Qatar, his usual residence, for burial on Friday.
- Political Reactions:
- Hamas Deputy Chief Khalil Al-Hayya expressed solidarity with Haniyeh’s cause and vowed continued resistance against Israeli and U.S. influence.
- Iran declared three days of national mourning and accused the U.S. of being complicit due to its support for Israel.
- Accusations and Tensions:
- Iran and Hamas have accused Israel of carrying out the assassination. Israeli officials have not confirmed responsibility.
- The assassination has intensified fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East, particularly after recent violence involving Hezbollah and other regional groups.
- Statements from Iran:
- Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, vowed retaliation, stating that “all fronts of the resistance will take revenge for Haniyeh’s blood.”
- The region faces heightened risk of wider conflict following the killing of Hezbollah’s senior commander earlier this week.
Background
- Axis of Resistance:
- The Axis of Resistance is a coalition of groups supported by Iran, including Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and various Shi’ite factions in Iraq and Syria.
- Tensions have escalated following a series of retaliatory strikes between Israel and Iranian-backed groups.
- Previous Conflict:
- Earlier this year, Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel in response to a suspected Israeli attack on its embassy in Damascus.
This situation underscores the fragile state of regional security and the potential for escalating violence as the fallout from Haniyeh’s assassination unfolds.
