Newly released drone footage reveals the dramatic tank strike that killed Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar during a routine raid in the southern city of Rafah, unexpectedly catching the mastermind behind the October 7 attacks off guard.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that trainee troops from Battalion 450 encountered Hamas soldiers while searching for tunnels associated with the militant group.
According to military sources, the confrontation began when Hamas militants opened fire on the IDF unit, prompting the soldiers to return fire. The militants then retreated into two adjacent buildings, leading to an aerial strike on one of them, which resulted in the unintended death of Sinwar, the IDF stated.
Following the operation, IDF troops conducted scans the next morning, during which they identified Sinwar’s body. In addition, the IDF released images showing a significant cache of weapons recovered from the site, including three rifles and various ammunition. The IDF and the Israel Security Agency, known as Shin Bet, confirmed Sinwar’s death, noting that he had been a target for over a year.
In a final act of defiance, additional footage captured Sinwar throwing a piece of wood in a futile attempt to disable the reconnaissance drone before IDF soldiers opened fire once more. Graphic photos from the scene later displayed the Hamas leader and orchestrator of the October 7 attacks lying lifeless amid the rubble after the tank strike.
