US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on Wednesday that he does not believe a wider war in the Middle East is inevitable, in response to rising tensions in the region following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
During his visit to the Philippines, Austin affirmed that the United States would defend Israel if it came under attack.
The Israeli military announced it is assessing the situation with no changes in the Home Front Command’s directives, amid reports of a complete closure of Israeli northern airspace.
Sources from “Al Arabiya” and “Al Hadath” reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office requested ministers refrain from commenting on the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital.
Hamas announced on Wednesday the death of its political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, along with one of his bodyguards, in an Israeli airstrike on his residence in Tehran, following his participation in the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s new president.
A statement from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, published on its website, confirmed that “the residence of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, was bombed in Tehran,” resulting in his death and that of his bodyguard.
The Revolutionary Guard stated that an investigation into the incident is underway.
Following the announcement of Haniyeh’s death, Hamas political bureau member Mousa Abu Marzook condemned the assassination as a “cowardly act that will not go unpunished.”
Haniyeh had arrived in Tehran on Tuesday to attend the inauguration of the new Iranian President, Masoud Bezhkian, in the Shura Council.
During his visit, Haniyeh met with Bezhkian and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday occurred amid fears of a potential war between Israel and the Lebanese Hezbollah.
