Hamas says Ismail Haniyeh was killed in "treacherous Zionist raid"

Hamas on Wednesday confirmed that its political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in "treacherous Zionist raid" at his residence in Iran.

"The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas mourns to our great Palestinian people, to the Arab and Islamic nation, and to all the free people of the world: Brother, leader, martyr, Mujahid Ismail Haniyeh," the Palestinian jihadist group said in a statement.

"The head of the movement, who was killed in a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence in Tehran, after participating in the inauguration ceremony of the new Iranian president. To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. And it is a jihad, victory or martyrdom," it added.

Earlier today, Iranian state media reported that Haniyeh was killed in an attack at his residence in Tehran.

"Early this morning, the residence of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran was struck, resulting in his and one of his bodyguards' martyrdom. The cause is under investigation and will be announced soon," a statement issued by the Revolutionary Guards read.

Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.

Senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk termed the killing of his leader Ismail Haniyeh a "cowardly act", Al-Aqsa TV reported on Wednesday.

"The assassination of Ismail Haniyeh is a cowardly act that will not go unpunished," he said while talking to Hamas-run media.

A day earlier, Israel claimed that it assassinated the senior commander of Hezbollah in a targeted attack in southern Beirut on Wednesday evening.

However, the claims were denied by Hezbollah but confirmed that its commander had survived the attack.