The Palestinian Hamas organization announced that its political leader Ismail Haniya was killed after an Israeli attack on his residence in Tehran, the national portal "Adyrna" reported.
"Our brother, our leader, the leader of the movement, Mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an attack on the headquarters of the Zionists in Tehran after participating in the inauguration of the new president of Iran," reports the world agency, referring to the Hamas statement.
It is unclear how exactly the residence was hit. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also announced Haniya's death.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas strongly condemned the killing of Hania, according to the Palestinian WAFA news agency.
As the BBC's Middle East correspondent Yolanda Knell noted, Hamas officials said the attack on Hania marked a significant escalation of the conflict in the region and "will not go unpunished."
"It is not yet clear how this will affect the course of the war in Gaza, but Ismail Haniya has overseen negotiations for a new ceasefire and the release of hostages. Despite his tough rhetoric, analysts viewed him as Mohammed Deif and Yahya Sinwar, who are said to have masterminded last year's terror raid in southern Israel.
