Explosion heard in Doha as Israel says it carries out strike on Hamas leadership

Israel’s military said Tuesday it carried out an airstrike targeting Hamas leadership, without saying where.

The announcement came as an explosion could be heard in Doha, Qatar’s capital.

The Qatari-funded news network Al Jazeera has linked an explosion in Doha to an Israeli announcement that it targeted Hamas’ leadership in a strike. The blast Tuesday echoed in Doha, sending black smoke into the air. It wasn’t immediately clear if anyone was injured in the attack.

Hamas’ exiled leadership has long been based in Qatar, which has served as a mediator in talks between Hamas and Israel for several years, even before the latest war in the Gaza Strip.

A strike on its top leadership could further complicate negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack.