Iran will not attack Israel, it will not attack Hamas.
Israel did not immediately comment on the bombing in Tehran earlier on Wednesday, which killed Ismail Haniyeh.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country had dealt "severe blows" to its enemies in recent days, including the assassination of a top Hezbollah commander in Lebanon hours before the Tehran attack.
He warned Israel that "hard days are coming", fearing a major conflict in the Middle East.
"Since the Beirut attack happened in Beirut, they are under threat from all sides," he said in a televised speech.
"We are ready for any situation, we will stand united and resolute against any threat."
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned of a "dangerous escalation" of conflict in the region. Members of the UN Security Council met on Wednesday night to discuss the situation.
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| Ismael Haniyeh was killed hours after attending the inauguration of Iran's new president |
The militant group Hamas said the death of Haniyeh, believed by many to be the group's leader, "puts a new face on the war" and has far-reaching consequences. The group attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people. Since the attack, Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas. Haniyeh, who played an important role in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, was killed a few hours after attending the inauguration of the new president of Iran, Masoud Pezeskian, in Tehran. A senior Hamas official told the alkhabrfdakika that the killing took place in a house where Haniyeh stayed during his previous visits to Iran. The three leaders of Hamas and several guards were in the same building, they said. Khalil Al-Hayya, a Hamas leader, said at a press conference that the rocket hit Haniyeh "directly," citing witnesses who were with him. The group's leaders are "in a state of panic," Hamas officials told the alkhabrfdakika. hours before Haniyeh's target, Israel said they had killed the head of Hezbollah leader Fu'ad Shukr in Beirut. Israel claims responsibility for a rocket attack that killed 12 people on Saturday in the Israeli-held Golan Heights. Hezbollah has denied any involvement. Iranian-backed groups confirmed that Shukr's body was found in the rubble of the raided residence. Four more people, including two children, died.
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| The strike on the Haret Hreik neighbourhood of Beirut destroyed a building |
Hezbollah's answer is clear. Earlier, heavily armed, Iranian-backed groups fired rockets into Israel in response to the assassination of the leaders. The US has updated its travel advice for citizens, advising them not to travel to Lebanon due to "rising tensions", the UK foreign secretary has urged citizens to leave the country. Several airlines have canceled flights to Beirut, and United, Delta and British Airways are expected to announce they will suspend flights to Tel Aviv.
