Putin calls for ‘restrained’ response from Iran as Hamas appoints new chief: Live

Russia will deliver advanced air defence systems and other military equipment to Iran as Tehran prepares to retaliate against Israel over the killing of Hamas’s top political leader.

Moscow agreed to deliver military aid after Tehran requested more arms from its ally, Iranian officials told The New York Times.

Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian told a senior ally of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin yesterday that Tehran was determined to expand relations with its “strategic partner Russia”.

Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia’s security council, met Iran’s president and top security officials as the Islamic Republic weighs its response to the killing of a Hamas leader.

“Russia is among the countries that have stood by the Iranian nation during difficult times,” Mr Pezeshkian said in a meeting with Mr Shoigu.

Russia has condemned the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Iran last week and called on all parties to refrain from steps that could tip the Middle East into a wider regional war.

The US Central Comman says that in the past 24 hours it has destroyed Houthi aerial vehicle over Red Sea.

A statement, posted on the USCC official X account, read: “In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command forces successfully destroyed one Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle and two Iranian-backed Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen over the Red Sea.

“These weapons presented a clear and imminent threat to US and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region.

“This reckless and dangerous behavior by Iranian-backed Houthis continues to threaten regional stability and security.”

Hamas’ new political chief Yahya Sinwar was chosen “unanimously” by the group.

Osama Hamdan, a Hamas official, told Al Jazeera that the swift appointment demonstrated the “vitality” of the group.

“This shows that the movement is aware of the nature of the stage, and the negotiation was managed by the leadership and Sinwar was always present,” Hamdan told the outlet.

“The fact that Hamas chose Sinwar as chief so quickly demonstrates the vitality of Hamas. The team that followed the negotiations during the presence of Haniyeh will follow them during the presence of Sinwar.

“Sinwar’s accurate knowledge of the occupation will strengthen our negotiating position in the next stage.”

The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, has vowed a “strong and effective” response to the killing of its military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut by Israel last week.

On Tuesday Nasrallah said the group would act either alone or with its regional allies. “Whatever the consequences, the resistance will not let these Israeli attacks pass by,” he said in a televised address to mark one week since the assassination.

Hundreds of mourners turned out for the funeral of Hezbollah commander Ali Jawad, who was killed on Monday by an Israeli airstrike.

Jawad’s funeral procession took place in Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday. Since early October, Hezbollah began attacking Israeli military posts along the border calling it a backup front for their Palestinian allies in the Gaza Strip.

Here is the statement from the White House of the call between Joe Biden and Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar, also on Tuesday:

President Biden spoke today with Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al Thani of Qatar to address their efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, including through an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal.

President Biden thanked Sheikh Tamim for his determined leadership in the facilitation of negotiations that have now reached a final stage.

President Biden and Sheikh Tamim agreed on the urgency of bringing the process to closure as soon as possible. Both leaders and their teams agreed to remain in close coordination over the coming days.

Here is the statement from the White House of the call between Joe Biden and the Egyptian president on Tuesday:

President Biden spoke today with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt to address their efforts to de-escalate regional tensions, including through an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal.

President Biden thanked President El-Sisi for his determined leadership in the facilitation of negotiations that have now reached a final stage.

President Biden and President El-Sisi agreed on the urgency of bringing the process to closure as soon as possible.  Both leaders and their teams agreed to remain in close coordination over the coming days.

Yahya Sinwar has been announced the new political chief of Hamas following the recent assassination of Ismail Hanieyh.

The 62-year-old, who has spent half his adult life in Israeli prisons, was the most powerful Hamas leader left alive following the assassination of Haniyeh, which has left the region on the brink of a wider regional conflict after Iran vowed harsh retaliation.

Born in a refugee camp in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, Sinwar was elected as Hamas’ leader in Gaza in 2017 after gaining a reputation as a ruthless enforcer and an implacable enemy of Israel.

He was formerly head of the Al-Majd security apparatus which tracked, killed and punished Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel’s secret service before he was jailed.

Sinwar masterminded the October 7 attacks on Israel and has remained in Gaza since.