Calls for revenge echo at Haniyeh’s funeral; Tehran vows ‘punishment’
The Hindu
Iran holds funeral for Hamas leader Haniyeh, vows revenge after Israeli strike; escalating tensions in the region.
Iran held a funeral ceremony on August 1 with calls for revenge after the killing in Tehran of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in a strike blamed on Israel.
Thousands of mourners paid respects to Haniyeh as the Israeli military confirmed that an air strike in Gaza last month killed the Hamas military chief, Mohammed Deif.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led prayers for Haniyeh ahead of his burial in Qatar, having earlier threatened a “harsh punishment” for his killing.
In Tehran’s city centre, crowds, including women shrouded in black, carried posters of Haniyeh and Palestinian flags in a procession and ceremony that began at Tehran University.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced the day before that Haniyeh and a bodyguard were killed in a pre-dawn strike on Wednesday on their accommodation in Tehran.
It came just hours after Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander, Fuad Shukr, in a retaliatory strike in the south of Lebanon’s capital Beirut, raising fears of a wider regional conflict as the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza continues. Shukr is to be buried on Thursday.
Senior Iranian officials including President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief, General Hossein Salami, attended the ceremony for Haniyeh, state TV showed. Qatar-based Haniyeh had been visiting Tehran for Mr. Pezeshkian’s inauguration ceremony on Tuesday.
Russia launches a massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine amid ongoing diplomatic talks to resolve the four-year conflict.
Israeli defence firm IWI plans to supply 40,000 LMGs to India next year, enhancing local production and collaboration.
Pakistan's Punjab Province foils a major terror plot, arresting 24 terrorists and seizing explosives during extensive operations.
Iranian authorities file a criminal case against marathon organizers for allowing women to compete without hijabs, amid rising enforcement calls.
Indian student Sahaja Reddy Udumala dies from severe injuries in a house fire while pursuing her Master’s in Albany, NY.
U.K. sanctions British Sikh businessman Gurpreet Singh Rehal for alleged ties to pro-Khalistan terrorism, freezing his assets and disqualifying him as a director.
New York woman Stacey Taylor charged with smuggling Indian nationals into the U.S. faces severe legal consequences.
Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of Trump's birthright citizenship order impacting children of undocumented immigrants.
A U.S. deportation flight carrying 172 Venezuelan migrants lands in Caracas amidst heightened military tensions and ongoing drug trafficking claims.
FIFA awards President Trump a peace prize, marking a significant shift from its traditional sports focus during the 2026 World Cup draw.
PM Modi emphasizes the enduring India-Russia friendship, highlighting energy ties and new collaborations during Putin's visit.
German lawmakers approve a plan to boost military recruitment without reinstating conscription amid rising security concerns from Russia.
Watch: Putin visit - Can India walk the balance with the West?