Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led prayers at the funeral of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, following his assassination in the Iranian capital. Hamas said Haniyeh’s body would be transferred to Doha for burial. In Lebanon, Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukur’s funeral was held after his death in an Israeli strike in Beirut.
Tensions escalated further as Iran vowed to strike back at Israel for Haniyeh’s killing, with Hamas officials calling it a crime that must be punished. Haniyeh’s likely successor is Khaled Meshaal, Hamas deputy-in-exile. The US denied involvement in the assassination, while Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and other world leaders condemned the killing.
The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting to address rising tensions in the region, with China, Russia, and others condemning Haniyeh’s assassination. UN chief António Guterres called the airstrikes a dangerous escalation.
In Gaza, Al Jazeera journalists Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifee were killed in an Israeli airstrike, along with a child. This raised concerns about Israel’s alleged targeting of journalists. UK ministers visited Qatar to help resolve the conflict in Gaza and promote de-escalation in the region.
Overall, the region is on edge as retaliatory threats and condemnations mount following a series of targeted assassinations, with fears of a larger conflict looming.
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