Hamas leader assassinated in Iran as terror group vows revenge - 'This will not go unanswered'

Israel's Defence Forces seized the chance to hit Haniyeh at a residence in Tehran, killing the 61-year-old and his security staff.

Israel faced a retaliatory strike launched by either Iran or Hezbollah.

Hamas is also at risk of pulling out of ceasefire talks

"Brother leader, mujahid Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the movement, died in a Zionist strike on his residence in Tehran after he participated in the inauguration of the new (Iranian) President," Hamas said in a statement.

Leading figures from Hamas have since called for further revenge.

Hamas political bureau member Musa Abu Marzuk vowed: "The assassination of leader Ismail Haniyeh is a cowardly act and will not go unanswered."

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Sami Abu Zuhri, another Hamas official, added: "We are engaged in an open war to liberate Jerusalem and we are ready to pay various prices."

However, ahead of the strike on Haniyeh, Israel carried out an attack against Beirut.

The strike on the Lebanese capital killed a top Hezbollah commander who allegedly orchestrated the attack that killed 12 young people in the Golan Heights.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to kill Haniyeh and other Hamas officials after the terror group's October 7 attack.

Hamas' attack killed 1,200 people and saw another 250 being taken hostage.

Israel has responded with an onslaught against the Gaza Strip.

The death toll in the Strip is nearing 40,000, the Strip's Hamas-run Health Ministry has claimed.

"Israeli forces killed 37 people and injured 73 others in three massacres against families in the last 24 hours," the ministry said.

"Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them," it added.