Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said he will make Israel “regret” the “cowardly” killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh yesterday in Iranian capital Tehran.

According to BBC, Pezeshkian says Iran would “defend its territorial integrity, honour, pride and dignity”.

Haniyeh , who was based in Qatar, died in an airstrike when he was attending Pezeshkian’s presidential inauguration ceremony, but Israel refused to comment whether it was responsible.

He was killed just hours after Israel carried out a strike in the neighbouring Lebanon’s capital Beirut, killing Hezbollah’s most senior military commander who it blamed for an attack on Israel on Saturday that killed 12 children.

Both Hamas and Hezbollah armed wings are supported by Iran. Hamas Political Bureau said their leader’s death would “not pass in vain,” according to CNN.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington would work to try to ease tensions, but said the United States would help defend Israel if it were attacked.

Source:BBC