Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif killed in air strike, Israel says

Israel’s military said Thursday that it had confirmed the death of Mohammed Deif, the head of Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, a day after the group’s political leader was assassinated in Tehran.

Following an intelligence assessment, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said he was killed when fighter jets struck an area of the southern city of Khan Younis.

“Along with them, other terrorists were eliminated,” the statement said.

Deif is believed to have been one of the masterminds of Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack on southern Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza, now in its 300th day.

Hamas did not immediately comment on the Israeli announcement, which came as crowds gathered in Iran’s capital for the funeral procession of Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh.

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