According to a Times investigation, Ismail Haniyeh was killed by an explosive device concealed within a heavily guarded complex in Iran where he was known to stay.
Ismail Haniyeh, a high-ranking leader of Hamas, was assassinated on Wednesday by an explosive device secretly planted months earlier in the Tehran guesthouse where he was staying, according to an investigation by The New York Times and reports from several officials.
The device, concealed in the heavily guarded Neshat compound managed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), was remotely detonated after Haniyeh’s presence in his room was confirmed. The explosion not only killed Haniyeh but also his bodyguard. The blast caused significant structural damage, including shattered windows and a partial collapse of an exterior wall, as reported by two Iranian officials briefed on the incident. A photograph of the damage was shared with The New York Times.
Haniyeh, who had previously led Hamas’s political office in Qatar, was in Tehran for the inauguration of Iran’s new president. The guesthouse, known for hosting prominent guests, had been Haniyeh’s accommodation during previous visits. The bomb’s placement and detonation were the result of meticulous planning over several months, involving extensive surveillance, according to five Middle Eastern officials.
Iranian and Hamas officials have accused Israel of orchestrating the assassination, a view supported by several U.S. officials. The incident is expected to escalate tensions in the Middle East and disrupt cease-fire negotiations in Gaza, where Haniyeh was a key negotiator. Israeli intelligence officials briefed Western governments on the operation immediately after the attack, but Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken confirmed that the U.S. had no prior knowledge of the assassination plot.
Initial speculation suggested a missile strike similar to a previous Israeli operation in Isfahan, but it was later confirmed that the attack involved a bomb planted inside the guesthouse. This breach of security, described as a catastrophic failure by three Iranian officials, has been a significant embarrassment for the IRGC.
The exact method of planting the bomb remains unclear, but officials indicated that the operation’s precision and sophistication resembled the remote-controlled A.I. weapon used in the 2020 assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, which is known for conducting such operations, has been implicated, although it has not officially acknowledged involvement.
Following the assassination, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei convened an emergency meeting and ordered a retaliatory strike against Israel. The attack occurred amid heightened security for the presidential inauguration, attended by numerous international dignitaries. Haniyeh had appeared triumphant at the inauguration just hours before his death.
In Iran, conflicting reports about the nature of the attack emerged. The Tasnim News Agency initially suggested a missile strike, but Iranian officials confirmed that the explosion occurred inside Haniyeh’s room. The precision of the attack has drawn comparisons to other sophisticated operations carried out by Mossad.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
