Iran-backed groups vow vengeance for Hamas assassination

Fears of a regional Middle East war grew on Saturday after the assassination of Hamas' political leader, blamed on Israel, triggered vows of vengeance from Iran-backed groups.

The United States said it would move additional warships and fighter jets to the region as the Iran-aligned "Axis of Resistance" readied its response to the killing of Ismail Haniyeh.

The groups – from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria – have already been drawn into the nearly 10-month conflict in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said Saturday that Israel killed Hamas political chief Haniyeh using a "short-range projectile" launched from outside of his accommodation in Tehran.

"This terrorist operation was carried out by firing a short-range projectile with a warhead of about 7 kilograms - causing a strong explosion - from outside the accommodation area," the Guards said in a statement. 

It added that Israel was "supported by the United States" in the attack.

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Israeli airstrike in Tulkarm

An Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in the occupied West Bank killed a commander in the Palestinian armed group Hamas on Saturday, Hamas media reported, while Palestinian news agency WAFA said four other men were also killed.

The identities of the others were not clear, according to the WAFA report, which cited health officials.

The Israeli military said it had carried out an airstrike against a militant cell around the West Bank city of Tulkarm. Hamas media said a vehicle carrying fighters had been struck and that one of the commanders of its Tulkarm brigades was killed.

Violence in the West Bank was on the rise before the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza began on October 7 and has risen since, with frequent Israeli raids in the territory, which is among those that the Palestinians seek for a state.

Region wide tensions have soared this week after the assassination of Hamas leader Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday, a day after an Israeli strike in Beirut killed Hezbollah senior military commander Fuad Shukr.

Haniyeh's death was one in a series of killings of senior Hamas figures as the conflict in Gaza between the Palestinian militants and Israel nears its 11th month and concern grows that it is spreading across the Middle-East.

Hamas and Iran have both accused Israel of carrying out the assassination and have pledged to retaliate against their foe. Israel has neither claimed nor denied responsibility for the death. Hezbollah has also vowed revenge.

Netanyahu confirms delegation

An Israeli delegation will travel to Cairo in the coming days for negotiations to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday.

"The negotiating team for a hostage deal will depart for Cairo on Saturday night or on Sunday," his office said.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri commented on the announcement, saying: "Netanyahu does not want to stop the war and is using these empty statements to cover up his crimes and evade their consequences."

At least 39,550 Palestinians have been killed and 91,280 injured in the Israeli military offensive on Gaza since it began, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

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