Payam Javan: On July 31, Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, and one of his bodyguards were killed in Tehran, according to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The attack, which occurred while Haniyeh was in the city for the swearing-in of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has been attributed to Israel by Hamas and Iranian state media. The IRGC has launched an investigation into the incident.

Haniyeh, who had been residing in Qatar and played a significant role in bolstering Hamas’s capabilities, had recently met with both President Pezeshkian and Iran’s leader, Ali Khamenei. The killing of Haniyeh follows a recent escalation between Israel and Hamas, as well as increased Israeli actions against Hezbollah in response to recent attacks.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began with an assault on Israeli border cities in October 2023, has seen continued hostilities. Israel has vowed retaliation against Hezbollah following an attack in the Golan Heights that resulted in casualties, further intensifying the regional conflict.