IDF Confirms Death of Hamas Military Leader Mohammed Deif in July Strike

Tel Aviv: The Israeli military in a statement released on Thursday, August 1, confirmed the death of the Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif in an Israeli strike in Gaza.

The confirmation was made in a military statement saying that the chief was killed in Israel's July 13 airstrike in Gaza's Yunis in which 90 people were killed including Dief. However, Hamas earlier denied he was killed. As of now, no confirmation has come from the terrorist group.

"The IDF (Israeli army) announces that on July 13th, 2024, IDF fighter jets struck in the area of Khan Yunis, and following an intelligence assessment, it can be confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eliminated in the strike," Reuters reported quoting a military statement.

The Israeli confirmation comes a day after Hamas' top political leader, Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran while he was on a visit to Iran to attend President's swearing ceremony.

Along with Deif and Haniyeh, Israel pledged to eliminate Hamas' top leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, but he so far remained elusive.

As per Tel Aviv, Sinwar and Deif were the masterminds of the October 7 attack in which Hamas rampaged in southern Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.

Died was one of the founders of Hamas. He led the Qassam Brigades, in the 1990s, for decades.

As per reports, under his command, Hamas carried out dozens of suicide bombings against Israelis on buses and at cafes and also built a formidable arsenal of rockets that could strike deep into Israel and often did.

(Inputs from AP)