Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said on August 3 that a short-range projectile was behind the killing of Ismail Haniyeh and accused the United States of supporting the attack, which it has blamed on Israel.
The IRGC said in a statement that a rocket with a 7-kilogram warhead was used to target the residence of Haniyeh, who was the political leader of Hamas, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and EU.
The IRGC said that, according to its investigation, the rocket also caused heavy damage when it hit Haniyeh’s residence in Tehran on July 31, but the statement didn't include details of the location from which it was fired, the type of projectile, or the identity of the person or persons who fired it.
Haniyeh was in Iran to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Masud Pezeshkian.
The statement said the action was designed and carried out by Israel with the “support” of the U.S. government. It also reiterated a call for retaliation.
Haniyeh’s killing has triggered fears of an escalation in the region where tensions have already been high since the start of the war in Gaza.
SEE ALSO: What Hamas Leader's Killing Means For Talks Aimed At Ending Gaza WarThe Israeli government has yet to comment officially, but a photo of Haniyeh with a stamp on his forehead saying "Eliminated" was posted on the Government Press Office's Facebook page. The post, which was later deleted without explanation, did not specifically claim the strike was carried out by Israel.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on August 1 said that Washington was "not aware of or involved in" Haniyeh’s assassination and wouldn’t speculate on the impact it might have on the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas over the group’s October 7 attack inside Israel's territory that killed 1,200 people. Around 250 others were taken hostage, some of whom have since been released.
Some of the hostages have died while in Gaza as Israel carries out a massive military operation that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians as the Israeli military pursues the goal of eliminating Hamas.