Israel-Hamas War: Iran announces three days of mourning after Hamas chief killing

The Iranian government announced three days of mourning after the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in an air strike. The incident, which took place in Tehran, is blamed on Israel.

Hamas's armed wing said the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh takes the war to "new levels".

The incident will have "enormous consequences for the entire region," the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, whose fighters are engaged in the intense war with Israel in Gaza, said in a statement.

Syria's foreign ministry called the killing of the Hamas chief a "despicable act," adding that "persistent disregard of international laws by Israeli ... may set the entire region ablaze."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the "perfidious assassination" of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

"May God have mercy on my brother," Erdogan wrote on X, condemning "Zionist barbarity".

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised "harsh punishment" for Israel after the killing of the Hamas chief, calling it their "duty to seek revenge as he was martyred in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran," in a statement carried by IRNA.

Afghan Taliban expressed anger at the assassination of the Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, calling it "a great loss".

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian swore to make Israel "regret" the "cowardly" killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh. 

Pezeshkian mourned Haniyeh as "a brave leader" in a post on X, saying "The Islamic Republic of Iran will defend its territorial integrity, honour, pride, and dignity."

China condemns the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, saying it may result in instability in the region. 

"We are highly concerned regarding the incident and firmly oppose and condemn the assassination," said foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian.

Palestinian national and Islamic factions occupying the West Bank announced a general strike to protest the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in a joint statement.

Qatar's foreign ministry describes the assassination of the Hamas chief as a "heinous crime" adding it is a "dangerous escalation" that may lead to chaos in the region.

Haniyeh was attacked in Tehran using an “airborne guided projectile,” state-run news agency IRNA said.

VIDEO: Hamas leader watching Oct 7 attacks on Israel resurfaces

WATCH VIDEO: Haniyeh moments before the attack in Iran

The killing of Hamas's political leader in an air strike in Tehran is a "heinous terrorist crime", Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels said.

"Targeting him is a heinous terrorist crime and a violation of laws and ideal values," Mohammed Ali al-Huthi, a member of the Huthis' political bureau, posted on X.

Read complete story here: Hamas leaders vow Ismail Haniyeh's death 'will not go unanswered

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that he does not believe war in the Middle East is inevitable, but assured that if Israel were attacked, the US would assist in its defense.

However, he said that he is aware of reports that Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran, but he had no further comment.

Hezbollah says they are still searching for the body of commander targeted in Israeli strike, according to reports.

Russia denounced the "unacceptable political assassination" of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Bogdanov said.

Turkey condemned the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, the foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.

Sami Abu Zuhri, senior Hamas official, said that "This assassination by the Israeli occupation of Brother Haniyeh is a grave escalation that aims to break the will of Hamas and the will of our people and achieve fake goals. We confirm that this escalation will fail to achieve its objectives."

"Hamas is a concept and an institution and not persons. Hamas will continue on this path regardless of the sacrifices and we are confident of victory."

Reacting to Haniyeh's death, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of Yemen's Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, said: "Targeting Ismail Haniyeh is a heinous terrorist crime and a flagrant violation of laws and ideal values."

The WHO said 85 patients had been evacuated Tuesday from Gaza to the United Arab Emirates, in the largest medical evacuation from the Palestinian territory since the war began in October.

The World Health Organization said the sick and severely injured patients evacuated to the Gulf country comprised 35 children and 50 adults, who were accompanied by 63 family members and caregivers.

Musa Abu Marzuk, a senior Hamas official, has proclaimed that the killing of the Palestinian movement's chief Ismail Haniyeh "will not go unanswered".

"The assassination of leader Ismail Haniyeh is a cowardly act and will not go unanswered," said the Hamas political bureau member in a statement.

The Israeli military said late Tuesday that it wanted to avoid any wider war with Hezbollah but that its forces were ready for "any scenario".

"Hezbollah's ongoing aggression and brutal attacks are dragging the people of Lebanon and the entire Middle East into a wider escalation," military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a statement. "While we prefer to resolve hostilities without a wider war, the IDF is fully prepared for any scenario," he said, referring to the Israel Defence Forces.

Israel on Tuesday (July 30) announced that it has "eliminated" Faud Shukr, an elusive Hezbollah military commander. Accusing Shukr of being behind the rocket strike on the annexed Golan strike, Israel said the military commander was killed using fighter jets in the Beirut area.

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It was Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh who reportedly ordered the recent surprise assault on Israelis, which soon turned into a full-blown war with thousands dead.

Here's everything you need to know about him

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

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