Russia denounced the killing of Hamas politcal bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh as a political asssination. The Hamas leader was killed in Tehran where he had arrived for the swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Russia's deputy minister called the Haniyeh's killing as 'unacceptable political assassination', reported AFP.
Meanwhile, the United States assured its support to Israel which has been accused of assassinating Ismail by Hamas and Houthis.
“We are aware of reports of the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday. Austin said that he he did not think a wider war in the Middle East was inevitable, referring to rising tensions in the region.
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He also said the US would help defend Israel if it were attacked.
Acting as the key mediator between Hamas and Israel in the ceasefire talks, Qatar also condemned the killing as a "henious crime" and warned of "dangerous escalation".
Iran president Pezeshkian, vowed that Israel will be made to "regret" the "cowardly" killing of Haniyeh whom he called a "brave leader". "Iran would "defend its territorial integrity, honour pride and dignity," he said.
Jordan also joined the condemnation "in the strongest terms Israel's assassination" of the Hamas leader - and that it will lead to "more tension and chaos in the region", reported BBC.
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Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati also warned of a "serious escalation" in the wider region during an urgent meeting of his cabinet this morning.
In a statement, China's foreign ministry said it "resolutely opposes and condemns the assassination" and is "deeply concerned" about more turbulence in the region. Spokesperson Lin Jian commented that "a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire" should be reached in Gaza.