Saudi Arabia has condemned the killing of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, describing it as a “blatant violation” of Iran’s sovereignty. Waleed al-Khereiji, Saudi Arabia’s deputy foreign minister, expressed his country’s rejection of any violation of state sovereignty or interference in internal affairs. He made this statement during an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of Haniyeh’s killing, which occurred on July 31. However, the Israeli government has not issued any statement on the matter. The OIC has held Israel responsible for the attack, calling it a “serious infringement” of Iran’s sovereignty. Following this, Iran has threatened to retaliate, according to Al Jazeera.
Gambia’s Foreign Minister, Mamadou Tangara, expressed concern that the killing of Haniyeh and the ongoing conflict in Gaza could lead to a regional escalation. He described the killing as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, emphasizing its potential to escalate tensions and lead to a wider conflict involving the entire region.
During his remarks at the OIC meeting, Tangara called for a lasting peace that addresses the root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He stressed the importance of international cooperation to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need and to work towards a sustainable political solution that promotes peace and security for all in the region.
Iran and Palestine had called for the OIC meeting in Jeddah. While Iran has vowed retaliation and threatened “harsh punishment” for Israel, the US and other Western nations have urged de-escalation.
Following Haniyeh’s death, Hamas’s Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwar, has assumed his position. Tensions in West Asia escalated following the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announcement on July 31 that Haniyeh had been killed in Tehran.
The IRGC stated that Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were killed when their house was attacked in Tehran. According to Press TV, a projectile hit a residence allocated to war veterans in Tehran at 2 am (local time) on Wednesday. The IRGC, in a statement to Mehr News Agency, confirmed Haniyeh’s death and expressed condolences to the families and nations of Palestine, Iran, and the Resistance Front.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced the killing of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on July 30. This strike was in retaliation for a rocket attack on the Golan Heights that killed 12 children, reported The Times of Israel. The IDF declared Shukr to be the “most senior Hezbollah military commander” and a key figure in Hezbollah’s strategic division. Since the October 7 attack by Hamas, he was managing Hezbollah’s attacks against Israel, including the deadly strike in Majdal Shams that killed 12 children. The IDF highlighted Shukr’s role in directing Hezbollah’s attacks since October 8th and his responsibility for the killing of numerous Israelis and foreign nationals over the years.
