اردو 
What happened in Syria?
Opposition forces have taken control of the capital after a significant offensive. Here is how it unravelled.
Assassination in Tehran
- Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, was assassinated in Tehran, Iran on July 31, 2024.
- Haniyeh was killed alongside one of his bodyguards in a heavily guarded complex run by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
- The assassination was carried out using an explosive device that had been hidden in the guesthouse where Haniyeh was staying, according to Middle Eastern and American officials.
- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned the Israeli regime of a "harsh response" for the assassination of Haniyeh, saying the Islamic Republic must avenge the blood of the Palestinian resistance leader.
Iran's Promised Retaliation
- A commander of the IRGC Quds Force, Brigadier General Mohsen Chizari, has stated that Iran's response to Haniyeh's assassination will be "different and surprising" and will come "in due time."
- Chizari said the response will be "different" from Iran's previous retaliation, such as "Operation Arbaeen" carried out by Hezbollah against Israel.
- The IRGC has described the assassination as a "crime" that will face a "harsh and painful response from the powerful and huge resistance front."
- Iran's UN mission has also stated that the country will respond to the Israeli assassination of Haniyeh in a time and manner that will "take the regime by surprise."
Implications and Reactions
- The assassination of Haniyeh, a senior Hamas leader, on Iranian soil is seen as a major humiliation for Iran and the IRGC.
- The incident has raised fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East, as the region watches for Iran's promised retaliation against Israel.
- The killing of Haniyeh comes amid a larger Israeli military assault in the West Bank, which has resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians.
- Chizari warned that the more Israel persists with its military operations in the West Bank, the more difficult the situation will be for the Israeli regime, as the resistance structure remains strong in Gaza and is emerging in the West Bank.
