Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh killed in a ' treacherous Zionist raid' in Tehran: IRGC confirms fatal attack

The Palestinian militant group Hamas in a statement released on Wednesday (July 31) confirmed that Ismail Haniyeh, their leader, was killed in Tehran.

It said that the Hamas leader was killed in "a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran".

"Brother, leader, mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, died in a Zionist strike on his headquarters in Tehran after he participated in the inauguration of the new (Iranian) president," added the group.

The Hamas leader was in Iran for the inauguration ceremony of Iran's new president. On Tuesday (July 30), Haniyeh attended the inauguration of Iran's new president Masoud Pezeshkian. He also met Iran's Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei.

Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed after his residence in Tehran, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed in a statement. 

"The residence of Ismail Haniyeh, head of the political office of Hamas Islamic Resistance, was hit in Tehran, and as a result of this incident, him and one of his bodyguards were martyred," said the IRGC Sepah news website.

A statement by the IRGC's Public Relations Department said the attack happened early on Wednesday and a probe is underway to find the cause of the incident.

"Early this morning, the residence of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was struck, resulting in his and one of his body guards' martyrdom. The cause is under investigation and will be announced soon," it said.

The statement, as per Iran International, extended condolences to the Palestinian people, the Muslim community, and the fighters of the Resistance Front.

As per Reuters, Haniyeh was appointed to the Hamas top job in 2017. He moved between Turkey and Qatar's capital Doha, escaping the travel curbs of the blockaded Gaza Strip, acting as a negotiator in ceasefire talks with Israel and participating in talks with Hamas' ally Iran.