Conflicting Reports on Haniyeh’s Killing Location, Iran Vows Revenge

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh embraces IRGC Chief Hossein Salami at the Iranian parliament (Reuters)
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh embraces IRGC Chief Hossein Salami at the Iranian parliament (Reuters)
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Conflicting Reports on Haniyeh’s Killing Location, Iran Vows Revenge

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh embraces IRGC Chief Hossein Salami at the Iranian parliament (Reuters)
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh embraces IRGC Chief Hossein Salami at the Iranian parliament (Reuters)

The official Iranian response remains tight-lipped following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Conflicting reports have emerged about the location of the attack, while Iranian officials have accused Israel of the killing and vowed revenge.
Haniyeh was in Tehran for the swearing-in of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, amid tight security and the presence of officials from around 80 countries.
Initial reports from Iranian websites claimed that Haniyeh was killed near the Saadabad Palace by an Israeli drone. Other sources, however, stated that the attack happened in western Tehran.
The “Sabreen News” channel, linked to Iran’s Quds Force, the foreign arm of the Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), first reported the killing at 1:45 a.m. Iranian authorities have not released any photos of the scene.
Simultaneously, reports on the social media platform X mentioned a large blast in western Tehran, an area known for housing IRGC-linked residential sites.
Israeli Channel 12 suggested that the missile that killed Haniyeh was fired from within Iran, not by a drone as some reports had claimed.
Haniyeh and his bodyguard were killed in a guesthouse belonging to the IRGC in northern Tehran’s Chitgar neighborhood. The report noted that Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhala, who was in another part of the building, was not targeted.
Khalil al-Hayya, Hamas’s deputy leader, confirmed at a Tehran press conference that witnesses saw a missile hit the room where Haniyeh was staying. He said they are awaiting a full investigation and noted the explosion caused significant damage.
Al-Hayya also stated that discussions of a ceasefire with Israel are now irrelevant following the assassination.
He emphasized that while neither Iran nor Hamas seeks a regional war, the killing must be avenged, leaving resistance as the only option.
The IRGC confirmed that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed when their residence in Tehran was targeted. The statement provided few details.
Later, the Tasnim and Fars news agencies, both affiliated with the IRGC, reported that Haniyeh was killed at 2 a.m. by an aerial projectile.
According to the agencies, Haniyeh was staying at a veterans’ facility in northern Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said an investigation is underway into the assassination. He claimed the killing would strengthen Iran’s ties with the Palestinian cause.
The IRGC warned that Haniyeh’s death would prompt a “severe and painful” response. They pledged that Iran and its regional allies would retaliate against those responsible.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Iran must retaliate for the killing of Haniyeh because it happened on Iranian soil. He warned that Israel’s actions have set the stage for severe consequences.
President Pezeshkian also blamed Israel for the killing and promised that Iran would make Israel regret it.
Reuters reported that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council held an urgent meeting early Wednesday with senior IRGC leaders to address the assassination of Haniyeh.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran and the resistance would ensure Haniyeh’s death would not go unpunished.
Moreover, Iranian lawmakers suggested infiltrators might have leaked Haniyeh’s location and urged officials to address this issue seriously. They called for a full investigation and warned that Iran would respond to the attack, whether directly or indirectly.



A ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ Is Forecast for Fire-Scarred Los Angeles Area

An aerial view of a fire truck near homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 13, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
An aerial view of a fire truck near homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 13, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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A ‘Particularly Dangerous Situation’ Is Forecast for Fire-Scarred Los Angeles Area

An aerial view of a fire truck near homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 13, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
An aerial view of a fire truck near homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 13, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Millions of Southern Californians were on edge as a final round of dangerous fire weather was forecast for the region on Wednesday, along with a rare warning of a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” for an area near where two massive blazes have killed at least 25 and destroyed thousands of homes.

Firefighters got a reprieve Tuesday when winds were unexpectedly light and they were able to make progress battling the two huge Los Angeles area fires and quickly snuff out several new fires.

The Eaton Fire burning just north of Los Angeles and the Palisades Fire that destroyed much of the seaside LA neighborhood of Pacific Palisades broke out Jan. 7 in conditions similar to what’s expected Wednesday. High winds last week pushed flames at remarkable speed and carried fire-sparking embers sometimes miles away.

The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings – done when temperatures are warm, humidity is low and strong winds are expected – from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. from the Central Coast 275 miles (443 kilometers) south to the border with Mexico. The “Particularly Dangerous Situation” was in effect for an area that includes parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

“Key message: We are not out of the woods yet,” the weather service said in a post late Tuesday. “The winds underperformed today, but one more enhancement could happen tonight-tomorrow.”

More than 77,000 households were without electricity as utilities shut off power to prevent their lines from sparking new blazes.

A state of alert

Weary and anxious residents were told to be ready to flee at a moment’s notice. They remained vigilant, keeping an eye on the skies and on each other: Police announced roughly 50 arrests, for looting, flying drones in fire zones, violating curfew and other crimes.

Of those, three people were arrested on suspicion of arson after being seen setting small fires that were immediately extinguished, LA Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. One was using a barbecue lighter, another ignited brush and a third tried to light a trash can, he said. All were far outside the disaster zones. Authorities have not determined a cause for any of the major fires.

Among nine people charged with looting was a group that stole an Emmy award from an evacuated house, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said.

The biggest worry remained the threat from intense winds. Now backed by firefighters from other states, Canada and Mexico, crews were deployed to attack flareups or new blazes. The firefighting force was much bigger than a week ago, when the first wave of fires began destroying thousands of homes in what could become the nation's costliest fire disaster.

Kaylin Johnson and her family planned to spend the night at their home, one of the few left standing in Altadena, near Pasadena. They intended to keep watch to ward off looting and to hose down the house and her neighbors’ properties to prevent flareups.

Preparing for another outbreak

Planes doused homes and hillsides with bright pink fire-retardant chemicals, while crews and fire engines deployed to particularly vulnerable spots with dry brush.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other officials who were criticized over their initial response expressed confidence that the region is ready to face the new threat. The mayor said she was able to fly over the disaster areas, which she described as resembling the aftermath of a “dry hurricane.”

Winds this time were not expected to reach the same fierce speeds seen last week but they could ground firefighting aircraft, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.

He urged homeless people to avoid starting fires for warmth and to seek shelter.

Wildfires on the rise across LA

With almost no rain in more than eight months, the brush-filled region has had more than a dozen wildfires this year, mostly in the greater Los Angeles area.

Firefighters have jumped on small blazes that popped up, quickly smothering several in Los Angeles county, including a blaze Tuesday evening in the Angeles National Forest.

The four largest fires around the nation’s second-biggest city have scorched more than 63 square miles (163 square kilometers), roughly three times the size of Manhattan. Of these, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena was roughly one-third contained, while the largest blaze, in Pacific Palisades on the coast, was far less contained.

The death toll is likely to rise, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. Nearly 30 people were still missing, he said Tuesday. Some people reported as missing earlier have been found.

Just under 90,000 people in the county remained under evacuation orders, half the number from last week.

Hollywood on hold Hollywood’s awards season has been put on hiatus because of the crisis. The Oscar nominations have been delayed twice, and some organizations postponed their awards shows and announcements without rescheduling.