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Hamas leader Haniyeh killed in Iran

Haniyeh had been key to talks over a ceasefire with Israel. Credit: Getty Images

Hamas's political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, has been killed in an Israeli air strike in the Iranian capital, the group has said. Haniyeh - who was from Gaza but had lived in Qatar for several years - had been a target since his group's attack killed 1,200 people in southern Israel on 7 October last year. He had been filmed smiling and waving at the inauguration of Iran's president in Tehran, where the building he was staying in was later hit by an air strike, reports suggest. It came hours after Israel said it had killed the top military commander of Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based group that, like Hamas, is backed by Iran. Fuad Shukr was killed in an air strike in the Lebanese capital Beirut, in retaliation for the weekend rocket attack in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israel said. The developments will fuel fears of further escalation of war in the Middle East, writes Hugo Bachega, from Lebanon.

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• Ceasefire talks: Ismael Haniyeh had been critical to talks over halting the war in Gaza. Our diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams assesses how his death will affect negotiations.

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• Haniyeh's role: He was widely considered the overall leader of Hamas. But several others play prominent roles. Here's our explainer.

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• Reaction and analysis: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed retaliation for the killing. Our live page has the latest.

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