1 August 2024: Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated yesterday by an explosive device which had been smuggled into the guesthouse he is known to stay in two months ago, the New York Times has reported.
Quoting five Middle Eastern officials, the newspaper said: “The bomb had been hidden approximately two months ago in the guesthouse… The bomb was detonated remotely, the five officials said, once it was confirmed that he was inside his room at the guesthouse.”
The bomb killed Haniyeh and his bodyguard and caused damage to the building.
He had been in Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran’s new President, Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday.
The leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Ziyad Al-Nakhalah, was staying next door, two Iranian officials told the NYT. “His room was not badly damaged, suggesting precise planning in the targeting of Mr. Haniyeh,” it added.
Iranian social media users had pointed out that the guesthouse is located near the Saadabad Complex in northern Tehran. With recent photographs showing the damaged upper-floor apartment of the building. That damaged part of the structure has now been covered with a tarp, and debris can be seen on the ground.
Due to its height and open surroundings, the structure is easily visible from afar.
