Israeli military confirms death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar amid escalating tensions in Middle East

The Israeli military indicated on Thursday that it had killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar during an operation in the Gaza Strip. The announcement comes weeks after the IDF assassinated Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a massive strike in Lebanon. Foreign Minister Israel Katz dubbed it a "victory for the entire free world" and claimed that it was a "great military and moral achievement for Israel".

“Eliminated: Yahya Sinwar” read a succinct update from the IDF. 

His death represents a major boost to the Israeli military and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a string of high-profile assassinations of prominent leaders of its enemies in recent months. Local media reports suggest that the operation was a routine raid that caught Sinwar by chance.

The Israeli military had earlier said that it was checking the possibility that it has killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar — considered the mastermind behind the October 7 attack — amid its ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. 

“Three terrorists were eliminated during IDF operations in Gaza. The IDF and ISA are checking the possibility that one of the terrorists was Yahya Sinwar. At this stage, the identity of the terrorists cannot be confirmed. In the building where the terrorists were eliminated, there were no signs of the presence of hostages in the area. The forces that are operating in the area are continuing to operate with the required caution,” said an official statement shared on X earlier today.

According to AP report anonymously quoting Israeli military officials, the IDF had conducted DNA tests on a body to determine if it was indeed Sinwar.

Yahya Sinwar had taken over the operations of the militant group in July following the death of its former political chief Ismail Haniyeh — an attack that Hamas and Iran blame on Israel.

(With inputs from agencies)