One-eyed Hamas commander and architect of October 7 atrocities has been 'eliminated', Israel confirms in latest blow to terror group after leader was blown up in Iran

Hamas commandant Mohammed Deif has been assassinated successful an airstrike, nan Israeli subject revealed today, a time aft group leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed successful Iran.

'IDF combatant jets struck successful nan area of Khan Yunis, and pursuing an intelligence assessment, it tin beryllium confirmed that Mohammed Deif was eliminated successful nan strike,' the Israel Defense Forces said successful a connection today.

The one-eyed Hamas commandant was allegedly killed connected July 13, confirmed Thursday after Hamas' governmental main was killed by an 'airborne projectile' successful Tehran. Israel did not instantly declare work for Haniyeh's death.

Deif is believed to person been responsible for readying and executing nan bloody October 7 incursion into Israel, successful which Hamas members and their friends killed immoderate 1,200 Israelis and took immoderate 240 hostage.

The caput of nan Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's equipped wing, Deif had been among Israel's astir wanted man for astir 3 decades and connected a US database of 'international terrorists' since 2015. 

Israel had tried to termination him 5 times - successful 2001, 2002, 2006, 2014 and successful May 2021. 

The attempts saw some of his legs and an limb blown disconnected and his woman and 2 children killed.

Amid nan ongoing warfare successful Gaza, Israel targeted Deif successful a onslaught connected July 13 that deed a compound connected nan outskirts of nan metropolis of Khan Younis, but location had been nary contiguous confirmation he was killed.

More than 90 different people, including displaced civilians successful adjacent tents, were killed successful nan strike, Gaza wellness officials said astatine nan time.

The location wherever Deif was believed to person taken residence was deed pinch a 2,000lb (900kg) bomb, leaving a elephantine creater. 

One of nan founders of Hamas's subject wing, nan Qassam Brigades, successful nan 1990s, nan erstwhile bombmaker had led nan portion for decades.

Under his command, it carried retired dozens of termination bombings against Israelis connected buses and astatine cafes and built up a formidable arsenal of rockets that could onslaught heavy into Israel.

Deif operated on pinch Yahya Sinwar, nan caput of Hamas successful Gaza, nan Israeli subject said.

'During nan war, he commanded Hamas's violent activity successful nan Gaza Strip by issuing commands and instructions to elder members of Hamas's subject wing,' it added.

There were rumours nan sinister mastermind of nan October 7 attacks had been killed earlier this month, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said successful mid-July it was 'still not perfectly certain' whether Deif was dead.

The announcement came a time aft governmental main Ismail Haniyeh was killed successful an airstrike successful Tehran.

Haniyeh, a multi-billionaire who had been surviving successful exile successful Qatar since 2019, was reportedly killed erstwhile an 'airborne guided projectile' deed his compound successful Tehran. Israel has not claimed responsibility.