The Israeli military announced on Thursday that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed by its forces in southern Gaza on October 16, 2024.
In a statement, the military confirmed that after a year-long pursuit, Sinwar was eliminated during an operation conducted by IDF soldiers from the Southern Command.
The military indicated that a series of operations conducted over the past year had significantly limited Sinwar’s movements, ultimately leading to his death.
IDF soldiers from the 828th Brigade reportedly identified and neutralized three militants during the operation, confirming Sinwar’s identity afterward.
Sinwar, 61, has been accused by Israel of orchestrating the October 7, 2023 attack on the country, which escalated into the ongoing conflict.
He succeeded Ismail Haniyeh as Hamas chief after Haniyeh’s death in Iran on July 31, although Israel has not commented on that incident.
The attack last year resulted in the deaths of 1,206 individuals in Israel, primarily civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures, which also includes hostages who were killed.
In response, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has reportedly resulted in the deaths of 42,438 people, mostly civilians, according to health officials in the territory, with the UN affirming the reliability of these figures.
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