- Japan's core inflation rate slows in September
- Israel PM says killing of Hamas chief 'beginning of the end' of Gaza war
- King Charles set to arrive in Australia for landmark tour
- Nadal defeated by 'animal' Alcaraz in Saudi Arabia as career nears end
- US Supreme Court denies stay of execution to Texas man in 'shaken baby' case
- US charges Indian agent over alleged plot to kill Sikh separatist
- Musk stumps for Trump in key US swing state
- TikTok, Facebook approve ads with US election disinformation, study says
- Purdy and 49ers face Chiefs in Super Bowl rematch
- Kenya deputy president ousted in historic impeachment
- Israel military says Sinwar killed in firefight while tracked by drone
- One Direction members 'devastated' by Liam Payne's death
- Norris shrugs off Red Bull 'trick' of the trade at US Grand Prix
- Global stocks climb as ECB cuts rates and tech rebounds
- Chelsea, Lyon ease to wins in Women's Champions League
- China expected to post slowing growth as economic woes drag
- Yamasaki brings keirin world title home as Japan takes two track golds
- Netflix adds millions of subscribers but growth slows
- 'Deeply misguided' to wall US off with tariffs: Yellen
- Biden farewell visit to Berlin focused on Ukraine, Mideast wars
- EU leaders urge new laws to speed up migrant returns
- Sinwar killing a blow to Hamas but impact on war uncertain
- Mitzi Gaynor, star of 'South Pacific,' dies aged 93
- Trump says Zelensky 'should never have let' Ukraine war start
- Harris woos undecided voters as Trump riles critics over Ukraine
- Hayes turns focus to US women's World Cup goal
- Zelensky seeks EU, NATO backing for 'victory plan'
- Bosch stuns Australia as South Africa reach Women's T20 World Cup final
- What we know about One Direction star Liam Payne's death
- Nicotine pouches rise in popularity as US youth tobacco use hits 25-year-low
- Mendis clinches Sri Lanka series win over West Indies
- Israel says killed Hamas chief Sinwar in Gaza
- Panel urges Secret Service shake-up after Trump assassination bid
- Trump, Harris back on friendly ground after tough interrogations
- Pressure on Ten Hag is 'too much': Brentford boss Frank
- Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar: Israel's most wanted man
- ECB bans transgender women from women's professional cricket
- Monaco aiming to last in Ligue 1 title fight with PSG
- Kenya deputy president impeachment trial in chaos after he falls ill
- English coaches 'capable' of managing national team, says Southampton boss
- Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies retires from international rugby
- Real Madrid fans dismiss 'fake' Mbappe rape reports
- IMF chief calls for unity on shared challenges in 'deeply troubled times'
- Australia post 134-5 in semi-final of women's T20 World Cup
- Tech giants go nuclear in AI arms race
- 1,100 mpox deaths recorded across Africa: CDC
- UK's National Gallery bans liquids after activist art attacks
- Onboard wifi is latest frontline in airline competition
- Instagram moves to face rising tide of sextortion scams
- Tributes to One Direction's Liam Payne after hotel balcony fall
CMSD | -0.52% | 25.02 | $ | |
SCS | 0.53% | 13.21 | $ | |
NGG | -1.41% | 67.19 | $ | |
RBGPF | 1.67% | 60.5 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.68% | 7.35 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.52% | 24.79 | $ | |
VOD | -1.23% | 9.73 | $ | |
BTI | -1.22% | 35.37 | $ | |
RIO | -1.32% | 65.09 | $ | |
GSK | -0.64% | 38.96 | $ | |
BCE | 0.03% | 33.49 | $ | |
BCC | -3.38% | 142.2 | $ | |
RELX | 0.91% | 48.59 | $ | |
AZN | -0.37% | 78.02 | $ | |
JRI | -0.15% | 13.15 | $ | |
BP | 1.25% | 31.32 | $ |
Israel military says Sinwar killed in firefight while tracked by drone
The Israeli military on Thursday told how Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in a firefight after being tracked "going from home to home" desperately seeking to avoid detection in southern Gaza.
Israel has hailed the death of the 61-year-old Sinwar as one of the most important blows it has dealt Hamas since the Gaza war started with the group's October 7, 2023 attacks.
The Israeli military "confirms that after a year-long pursuit, yesterday (Wednesday), October 16, 2024, IDF (military) soldiers from the Southern Command eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Hamas terrorist organisation, in an operation in the southern Gaza Strip," it said in a statement.
"The dozens of operations carried out by the IDF and the ISA (Shin Bet internal security agency) over the last year, and in recent weeks in the area where he was eliminated, restricted Yahya Sinwar's operational movement as he was pursued by the forces and led to his elimination," it added.
"IDF soldiers of the 828th Brigade (Bislach) operating in the area identified and eliminated three terrorists. After completing the process of identifying the body, it can be confirmed that Yahya Sinwar was eliminated."
In a later statement, military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Sinwar was killed after being spotted with two other fighters in the territory's Rafah district.
"The forces idenfitied three terrorists who were going from home to home on the run," Hagari told a briefing.
Troops engaged the group, forcing Sinwar to flee as the group dispersed after being shot.
"Sinwar ran away alone into one of the buildings and our forces scanned the area with a drone – which you can see in this film -- Yahya Sinwar injured his hand in the shooting, who can be seen here covered with his face, he threw a branch at the drone," said Hagari.
- No hostages with Sinwar -
Drone footage released by the military showed Sinwar alone in a blown-up apartment, with one hand severly injured and head covered in a traditional scarf, throwing a stick at the approaching drone during his final moments.
"We identified him as a terrorist inside a building and we shot into the building and we entered to scan the area. We found him with a gun and 40 thousand shekels. He was on the run and our forces eliminated him," said Hagari.
"Near the terrorists we eliminated were no hostages and our forces are now screening the area," he added.
Israel accuses Sinwar of being the mastermind of the October 7 attacks along with Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif.
The Israeli military said Deif was killed in a strike earlier this year though the Palestinian group has not confirmed it.
Sinwar in August replaced Hamas's former chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Iran on July 31. Israel has not commented on Haniyeh's death.
The Hamas attack last year resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people on Israeli soil, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures that include hostages killed in captivity.
Israel's retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed 42,438 people, a majority of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN acknowledges the figures to be reliable.
C.Meier--BTB