Shocking battlefield encounter: Hamas leader killed in surprise attack NYT reveals

Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers who eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, were not expecting to encounter him during their operation.

The report highlights that the soldiers involved in the operation were part of a unit training for squad commanders, Caliber.Az reports per The New York Times (NYT). 

The unexpected engagement occurred on the evening of 17 October when the troops were patrolling an area in the southern part of the Gaza Strip and came across Palestinian militants.

It was only after a gunfight and subsequent strike on a building occupied by Hamas fighters that the Israeli military was able to identify Sinwar.

Sources revealed that he was killed alongside two other militants, and there were no signs of hostages in the vicinity. Additionally, money and weapons were reportedly recovered from the scene.

Notably, Israeli military officials have confirmed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed following a prolonged effort to track him down. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari reported that Israeli soldiers and intelligence agents had spent months gathering clues but had struggled to capture him.

Sinwar’s DNA was identified in a tunnel located a few hundred metres from where the bodies of six Israeli hostages were discovered six weeks ago. Admiral Hagari noted that Israel had obtained DNA samples from Sinwar during his lengthy imprisonment in Israeli jails.

The announcement of Sinwar's death sparked celebrations across Israel, with crowds gathering on rooftops and in the streets to cheer, wave Israeli flags, and honk their car horns in jubilation.

However, the news has elicited mixed emotions among the families of the hostages. While some expressed a sense of satisfaction at the killing, many others voiced concerns that their loved ones might now face increased danger as a result of Sinwar's demise.

By Aghakazim Guliyev