Iran Vows ‘Harsh Punishment’ for Haniyeh Killing, Türkiye Condemns Assassination  

A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Palestinian Hamas movement leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 30, 2024. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Palestinian Hamas movement leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 30, 2024. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
TT

Iran Vows ‘Harsh Punishment’ for Haniyeh Killing, Türkiye Condemns Assassination  

A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Palestinian Hamas movement leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 30, 2024. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)
A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei shows him (R) meeting with Palestinian Hamas movement leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 30, 2024. (Photo by KHAMENEI.IR / AFP)

Avenging Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's assassination is "Tehran's duty" because it occurred in the Iranian capital, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday.

He said Israel had provided the grounds for "harsh punishment" for itself.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the killing.

He said in a post on the X platform that his country will defend its territorial integrity and make those responsible regret their actions.

Hamas has blamed Israel for the assassination.

Hamas said Haniyeh was killed at his residence in Tehran in an Israeli airstrike after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Iran’s new president. Israel has not commented on the accusation.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the assassination, saying the killing would not break Palestinians' will.

"This assassination is a vileness that aims to disrupt the Palestinian cause, Gaza's noble resistance and our Palestinian siblings' rightful struggle, to break the will of Palestinians, and to intimidate them," Erdogan said on social media platform X. "However, just as until today, the Zionist barbarism will not reach its goals."

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said he was "deeply saddened" to hear that Haniyeh had been "martyred", adding that he had become a symbol of Palestinian resistance.

"He had devoted his life to the Palestinian cause, and to bringing peace and tranquility to Palestine," Fidan added on social media platform X, sharing a photograph of himself and Haniyeh.

Russia's foreign ministry also condemned the killing and called for restraint to stop the Middle East tipping into a large-scale war.

China condemned the assassination, with its foreign ministry warning the incident could lead to further regional instability.



Israeli Military: Division Deployed in Lebanon Now Preparing for Gaza

General view of destroyed buildings in North Gaza, as seen from the Israel-Gaza border, March 23, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
General view of destroyed buildings in North Gaza, as seen from the Israel-Gaza border, March 23, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
TT

Israeli Military: Division Deployed in Lebanon Now Preparing for Gaza

General view of destroyed buildings in North Gaza, as seen from the Israel-Gaza border, March 23, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
General view of destroyed buildings in North Gaza, as seen from the Israel-Gaza border, March 23, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

The Israeli military said on Sunday that one of its divisions that had operated in Lebanon was preparing for possible activity in Gaza.

"Following the situational assessment, the 36th Division has begun preparations for operations in the Southern Command. Over the past months, the division has completed operations in Lebanon and several months of operational activity in the northern arena," the military said in a statement.

It distributed video of tanks unloaded in a field and a caption that read: "Preparations of the 36th Division for Operations in the Gaza Strip."