Blinken says US not involved in killing of Hamas leader

WEB DESK: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday the United States was not involved in or made aware of the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

“This is something we were not aware of or involved in. It’s very hard to speculate,” Blinken said in an interview with Channel News Asia during a visit to Singapore, when asked what impact it could have, according to a transcript.

Read more: “You killed our dear guest”: Supreme leader vows Iran will avenge Haniyeh’s death

Iran has been a key supporter of Hamas.

Haniyeh, a key interlocutor in the Gaza ceasefire and hostage negotiations, was in parliament on Tuesday for the formal swearing-in.

The head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite wing of the Iranian military, and Iran’s former President Hassan Rouhani were among the attendees.