World
IDF investigating whether Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar among 3 killed in Gaza airstrike
The Israeli military announced on Thursday that it is investigating the possibility that Yahya Sinwar, a key Hamas leader, was killed during a targeted operation in the Gaza Strip.
The operation reportedly aimed at eliminating three militants in a specific building.
However, the military clarified that, at this point, the identities of the individuals killed could not be definitively confirmed.
Israeli media outlets recently shared images of a dead body, claiming it to be that of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Israeli security officials have since stated that there is a “high probability” that Sinwar has been killed, with several indicators supporting this assessment. While formal confirmation is still pending, authorities remain confident based on the available evidence gathered in the aftermath of the recent military operations.
Israeli officials told they are still waiting for DNA and fingerprint confirmation to make sure it is Sinwar. The Israeli officials say Israel has both his DNA and fingerprints from his time in prison.
According to the statement, there were no indications that hostages were present in the building at the time of the strike.
Sinwar, a central figure in Hamas and the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that escalated into the Gaza war, was appointed leader of the group after the assassination of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in August.
Sinwar’s involvement in orchestrating Hamas operations has made him a high-priority target for Israeli forces.
Early Saturday, residents across Tehran reported hearing multiple loud explosions, though the cause remains unclear.
The city has been on alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Israel, and the explosions reportedly originated from Tehran’s western side, where the Revolutionary Guards have a major headquarters, according to multiple local sources, including several Iranian journalists.
Fars News, a site closely linked to the Revolutionary Guards, confirmed that several large blasts had shaken the city, while other media reported that explosions were heard near or around Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Witnesses describe a surge of residents taking to the streets in response to the sudden noise, with nearby buildings shaken by the blasts. Syrian state media also reported similar sounds in Damascus, adding that the origin of the explosions there is “under investigation.”
Among those affected was Maryam Naraghi, a journalist based in the eastern Pardis neighborhood of Tehran, who recounted hearing the powerful sounds close to her location. “It was the unmistakable sound of bombs and explosions,” Naraghi explained.
The eastern part of Tehran houses various military sites, including Parchin, a highly secretive facility linked to Iran’s defense capabilities.
With heightened regional tensions, these blasts have fueled growing concerns across the city and beyond, as residents remain on edge.