An explosive device hidden in a heavily guarded complex where Ismail Haniyeh was known to stay in Iran was what killed him, according to a Times investigation.

Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader of Hamas, was assassinated on Wednesday by an explosive device covertly smuggled into the Tehran guesthouse where he was staying, according to seven Middle Eastern officials, including two Iranians, and an American official.

The bomb had been hidden approximately two months ago in the guesthouse, according to five of the Middle Eastern officials. The guesthouse is run and protected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and is part of a large compound, known as Neshat, in an upscale neighborhood of northern Tehran.

Mr. Haniyeh was in Iran’s capital for the presidential inauguration. The bomb was detonated remotely, the five officials said, once it was confirmed that he was inside his room at the guesthouse. The blast also killed a bodyguard.

    • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Even though the killing of the diplomat may have been legal, conducting an attack on the territory of a country not taking part in the conflict is typically not.

      Countries usually don’t like it when you conduct assassinations or acts of war on their territory.

      • conquer4@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Yep, don’t disagree. But to some extent, Isreal already believes that it is in a war with Iran.

        • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          In that case they should go ahead and declare war, at least if they care about keeping a sliver of legitimacy around their illegal assassinations. Let’s see how well that goes…

          Israel is 100% reliant on the goodwill of the international community. They’ve been working double time to wear it thin the past year, I’m honestly starting to wonder how far they’ll push it. Without international support, they’re just another small Middle Eastern country than can be walked on by Iran/Egypt/Saudi Arabia/Whoever has the biggest stick…

      • PyroNeurosis
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        3 months ago

        You can argue that it’s in support of counterterrorism or denazification, but most of Israel’s assassinations take place in third party countries.

        • thebestaquaman@lemmy.world
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          3 months ago

          Well that makes sense, seeing that they’re a state regularly doing thing that would have any other state declared as a “terrorist state” or “pariah state”.