Israel assassinated Hamas' top leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran last summer, Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed. The comments by Katz appeared to mark the first time that Israel has acknowledged killing Haniyeh, who died in an explosion in Tehran in July.

Since launching its retaliatory war in Gaza, Israel claims to have eliminated the leaders of militant groups including, Sinwar, the mastermind of the 7 October attack on Israel, and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an airstrike on a building complex in Beirut.

Iran slammed Israel for what it called was a 'heinous crime' of Israel's killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Iran comment against Israel came after the latter admitted its role in killing Haniyeh who had been key figure in Hamas for decades.