By Anadolu staff
An online image of the compound in Tehran where Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated is recent and was taken after the attack, Anadolu's investigation has confirmed.
Following the killing on early Wednesday, discussions quickly began about the location and security of the guest house where the Hamas political bureau chief was targeted.
Iranian social media users pointed out that the area is near the Saadabad Complex in northern Tehran.
Some semi-official sources, including news groups close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also started sharing visuals of the location.
The photograph shows that an upper-floor apartment of the building was hit. That damaged part of the structure has now been covered with a tarp, and debris can be seen on the ground.
Anadolu's comparison of the structure and location of the building in the photograph with open-access satellite imagery verifies that it is not doctored.
The building in the photo is located within the compound said to be protected by the IRGC. It is situated adjacent to the northern wooded area surrounding the Saadabad Complex, which is known for its concentration of museums and historical structures.
Satellite photos show the building where Haniyeh was staying has a large facade that faces partially towards the city, but predominantly towards the mountains.
Due to its height and open surrounding, the structure is easily visible from afar.
- Security beefed up before assassination
Residents living around the complex built in the early 1900s said they had no information if Haniyeh was staying there, but had noticed increased security measures two days before the assassination.
Many roads, usually open, were closed to traffic, they told Anadolu.
A resident said convoys of dozens of vehicles accompanied by special guards were entering and leaving the compound over the past two days.
Describing the strike that killed Haniyeh, a resident said: "We heard a sound around 2 a.m. (local time). It wasn’t a loud explosion, but like a sound similar to a mild explosion."
Another resident confirmed hearing a sound resembling a small blast on the night of the attack.
Hamas says Israel was behind the strike. Tel Aviv, however, has not commented on the attack.
The attack came as Israel continues its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing nearly 40,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7.
Hours earlier, the Israeli army killed Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in Beirut.
*Writing by Muhammed Enes Calli