Israel says it killed Hezbollah commander, 'checking possibility' of killing Hamas leader

Photo: Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon /Jalaa MAREY/AFP

The Israeli military said on Thursday, October 17, that it killed a Hezbollah commander Hussein Awad, saying he was responsible for the cross-border shelling of Israel, and are also “checking the possibility” that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was among three militants killed in Gaza during the IDF's latest operations in the enclave, Voice of America reports.

Sinwar was announced as the new political head of Hamas in August, following the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh. If he is indeed dead, the killing of the man accused of masterminding the October 7, 2023, attack would be a major turn in Israel's war against Hamas.

A joint statement from the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said an investigation was underway into whether one of the three militants killed in the recent Gaza operation was Sinwar, NBC reported, citing Israeli media.

White House National Security Advisor John Kirby said the United States was aware of reports that Sinwar might be dead, but added that he had not independently confirmed it.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, visiting northern Israel near the border with Lebanon, said Israel would not stop its offensive against Hezbollah.

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On Wednesday, October 16, Israeli forces also carried out airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut. Israel also said more than 50 rockets were fired from Lebanon on Wednesday, and Hezbollah confirmed that they hit an area in northern Israel.

The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said the Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon “followed other incidents in which civilians and civilian infrastructure were targeted across Lebanon” and that “civilian suffering is reaching unprecedented levels.”

Asked by a reporter about the strikes, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said: “We are targeting Hezbollah bases.” He added that he would look into each incident.

UN Security Council members condemned the humanitarian situation and the Israeli military's evacuation orders. Some said it was time for the council to consider all its “tools” to ensure the implementation of existing resolutions.

The meeting took place days after the United States demanded that Israel increase humanitarian aid to Gaza over the next month.

According to figures provided by the Israeli government, as a result of the attack by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage and forcibly moved to the Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Health Authority, controlled by Hamas, reports that in the more than a year that has passed since Israel launched a military operation to free the hostages and eliminate Hamas in the enclave, about 42,400 people have been killed there.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga