Jul 31. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The White House has said there are “no signs” that an escalation in the Middle East is “imminent” after the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced that its leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in an attack blamed on Israel and carried out in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said in a press conference that “we cannot be too optimistic about this” and said that the United States is “concerned about the escalation” in the region, although he said he could not confirm or verify what happened in Tehran.
“It is too early to know what these reports will mean for the ceasefire agreement (in the Gaza Strip),” he said, adding that US President Joe Biden has already been briefed on the latest developments.
His remarks came after Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNA in an interview from Manila that the United States was not involved in the attack and reiterated the importance of a ceasefire in Gaza.
The attack on Haniyeh, which took place at around 2 a.m. local time, was carried out by a guided missile launched from outside the country. Iranian authorities have declared three days of mourning and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has promised “harsh punishment” for his death.
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