No US involvement in Tehran strike of senior Hamas leader, says military official.

A U.S. military official stated to Planet Chronicle that the American military had "no role" in the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

It is unclear if the U.S. was aware of the operation before Haniyeh's death in an airstrike on his residence in Tehran on Wednesday, following the inauguration of Iran's new president. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin could not confirm if Israel was responsible for the strike or if military intelligence had provided a warning.

On Wednesday, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard announced the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. No one has claimed responsibility for the assassination, but Israel is suspected to be behind it after vowing to eradicate Hamas' senior leaders following the Oct. 7 terror attacks. Hamas invaded southern Israel on that day, killed 1,200 people and took nearly 250 hostages, triggering the war in Gaza.

On Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces announced a strike in Beirut against a Hezbollah commander suspected of orchestrating the recent attack that killed 12 Israeli children and teens on a soccer field in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. While Israel and the United States accused Hezbollah of being responsible, the terror group denied any involvement.

The Israeli strike in Beirut resulted in the death of Hezbollah's top military commander, Fawad Shah, who U.S. officials claim was involved in the 1983 Beirut marine barracks bombing that killed 241 American servicemen.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman, stated that Hezbollah's ongoing aggression and brutal attacks are leading to a wider escalation in Lebanon and the Middle East. While the IDF prefers to resolve hostilities without a wider war, they are fully prepared for any scenario.

In a speech at the funeral of late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in May, Haniyeh stated that the Al-Aqsa flood was an earthquake that caused significant changes at the global level by striking the center of the Zionist entity.

Haniyeh declared that the resistance against the enemy will persist until the liberation of all the land.

"The only way to cleanse the world of this filth is through the use of force," he declared. "No more peace agreements that are based on imagination, and no more mercy for these mortals. The iron hand that will strike them will bring peace, comfort, and strengthen our ability to live in peace with those who seek peace."

In a statement on Wednesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei pledged revenge for the assassination.

"Our guest was martyred by the criminal and terrorist Zionist regime in our home, making us sad, but the regime also prepared a harsh punishment for itself," Khamenei stated.

"Martyr Haniyeh was willing to sacrifice his honorable life in this dignified battle for many years. He was prepared for martyrdom and had sacrificed his children and loved ones on this path. He was not afraid of being martyred on the path of God and in order to save the lives of God’s servants. However, following this bitter, tragic event which has taken place within the borders of the Islamic Republic, we believe it is our duty to take revenge."

Five years ago, Haniyeh left the Gaza Strip and has been living in self-imposed exile in Qatar.

In April, three of Haniyeh's sons and four of his grandchildren were killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza.

This report was contributed to by Planet Chronicle' Liz Friden and Lucas Tomlinson, Planet Chronicle Digital's Landon Mion, and The Associated Press.