Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that hit the southern Lebanese village of Khiam on October 17, as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah continues. Photo: AFP
The Hezbollah group in Lebanon announced on Friday that it is entering a new and escalating phase in its war against Israel, while Iran stated that 'the spirit of resistance will be strengthened' following the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. In a statement, Hezbollah indicated that this escalation 'will be evident in the developments and events of the coming days'. Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023, attack that ignited the Gaza war, was killed during an operation by Israeli soldiers in the Palestinian territory on Wednesday, marking a significant event in the year-long conflict. Western leaders viewed his death as an opportunity for the conflict to end, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the war would persist until the hostages taken by Hamas were released. 'Today, we have settled the score. Today, evil has been dealt a blow, but our task has still not been completed,' Netanyahu said in a recorded video statement after confirming Sinwar's death on Thursday. 'To the dear hostage families, I say: This is an important moment in the war. We will continue in full force until all your loved ones, our loved ones, are home.' Sinwar, who took over as Hamas' overall leader following the assassination of political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, was believed to be hiding in the extensive network of tunnels Hamas has constructed under Gaza over the past two decades. He was killed during a gunfight in southern Gaza on Wednesday by Israeli troops who were initially unaware that they had targeted their country's top enemy, according to Israeli officials. The military released a drone video purporting to show Sinwar, sitting on an armchair and covered in dust inside a destroyed building. Hamas has not officially commented, but sources within the group suggest that the evidence points to Sinwar being killed by Israeli troops.
