Hamas Leader Haneya's Assassination in Iran: NYT Reveals Details.

According to an investigation by The New York Times, Hamas leader Ismail Haneya was killed by a bomb explosion that was secretly brought into the guest house in Tehran where he was staying.

The explosive device had been hidden about two months ago in the guesthouse, which is managed and guarded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It was remotely activated once it was confirmed that Haneya was in his room. The blast also killed his bodyguard.

Haneya arrived in Tehran for the inauguration of Iran's new president. He had stayed in this guesthouse multiple times during his visits to Iran. The explosion shook the building, shattered windows, and resulted in the partial collapse of an exterior wall.

Iranian officials and Hamas blamed Israel for the assassination. This was also confirmed by several American officials. The assassination threatens to spark a new wave of violence in the Middle East and disrupt negotiations for ending the war in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the assassination, but Israeli intelligence briefed the United States and other Western governments on the details of the operation immediately after it was carried out.

The planning of the assassination took months and required careful surveillance of the complex. The decision to carry out the operation outside of Qatar, where Hamas' political leadership resides, was made deliberately.

The explosion occurred around 2 a.m. local Time. The medical team that arrived at the scene confirmed the deaths of Haneya and his bodyguard. The leader of "Islamic Jihad," Ziad al-Nakhala, who was in an adjacent room, was unharmed, indicating precise planning.

The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was immediately informed of the incident, and he convened an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council, ordering a retaliatory strike against Israel.

The assassination of Haneya took place amid heightened security measures in Tehran due to the inauguration of the new president of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian. The day before, Haneya had attended the ceremony and appeared to be in good spirits.

Israeli assassination operations abroad are usually conducted by Mossad. Mossad Chief David Barnea stated in January that his agency is "obliged" to hunt down Hamas leaders wherever they may be.