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Israel's military said Tuesday it conducted a "precise strike" targeting senior Hamas leadership in Qatar's capital, where explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising over the city's Katara District.
The Israeli army and Israel's Shin Bet security agency confirmed the joint operation in a statement but did not specify the exact location, saying only that they targeted "senior leadership of Hamas."
Sources tell Al-Arabiya TV that the Hamas negotiating delegation survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Doha.
The U.S. Embassy in Doha has ordered a shelter-in-place. U.S. citizens in the city are advised to remain indoors.
"Today's action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility," the Israeli Prime Minister's Office says on X.
Two Hamas sources tell Reuters that the group's ceasefire negotiation delegation in Doha survived the Israeli attack.
A senior intelligence official speaking to Axios said, "The entire Hamas A-list was in the building" when the Israeli bombs struck.
Al Jazeera TV, citing Hamas sources, reported that the militant group's negotiation delegation was targeted during a meeting in Doha.
The Hamas leaders were reportedly at the site discussing a new U.S. proposal for a ceasefire when the strike occurred.
A senior Israeli official told local media the attack targeted top Hamas leaders, including Khalil al-Hayya, the group's Gaza chief, and Zaher Jabareen.
Multiple witnesses told Reuters they heard several blasts in the city on Tuesday.
Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalists in Doha reported explosions and smoke rising above areas where Hamas's political bureau is based.
Israel's assassination operation has been named "Operation Summit of Fire," according to reports.
Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing Israeli officials, first reported that the explosion in Doha was an assassination attempt against Hamas officials.
An Israeli source confirmed to CNN that Israel carried out an attack against Hamas leadership in Doha after the explosion was heard in the Qatari capital.
Hamas leaders have used the Qatari capital as a headquarters outside of Gaza for years.
"The Israeli army and Shin Bet, through the Air Force, conducted a targeted strike a short while ago against the top leadership of the Hamas terrorist organization," the Israeli military said in a statement posted on X.
The Israeli military said the targeted leaders "had led the terrorist organization's activities for years and are directly responsible for carrying out the Oct. 7 massacre and managing the war against the State of Israel."
"Before the strike, steps were taken to minimize harm to uninvolved civilians, including the use of precision weaponry and additional intelligence information," the statement added.
The Israeli military said it would "continue to act with determination to defeat the Hamas terrorist organization responsible for the Oct. 7 massacre."
Islamic Jihad, which has fought alongside Hamas in Gaza, on Tuesday condemned Israel's targeting of its ally's leaders.
"Israel's targeting of a meeting of leaders of... Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha, is a blatant criminal act that violates all human standards and values, as well as the most basic international laws and norms," Islamic Jihad said in a statement.
"The State of Qatar strongly condemns the cowardly Israeli attack that targeted residential buildings housing several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas in the Qatari capital, Doha," Minister and official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majed al-Ansari stated on X.
"This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar."
"The ministry affirms that the security forces, civil defense, and relevant authorities immediately began addressing the incident and taking necessary measures to contain its repercussions and ensure the safety of the residents and surrounding areas," the Qatari official stated.
"While the State of Qatar strongly condemns this assault, it confirms that it will not tolerate this reckless Israeli behavior and the ongoing disruption of regional security, nor any act that targets its security and sovereignty."
"Investigations are underway at the highest level, and further details will be announced as soon as they are available," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Qatar's Ministry of Interior announces that the sounds heard in Doha are due to the targeting of one of the residential headquarters of the Hamas movement.
"The ministry confirms that the competent teams are carrying out their duties, the situation is secure, and it calls on everyone to obtain information from official sources," the Qatari ministry noted.
Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic advisor to the president of the UAE, has also issued a statement stressing that "the security of the Arab Gulf states is indivisible."
He condemned the "treacherous Israeli attack" and "affirmed full solidarity with it in confronting this aggression."
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