The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah vowed to launch a new phase of fighting against invading Israeli troops Friday, a day after Israel said its forces in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza had killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar , the chief architect of last year's brutal attack on Israel that sparked the current war.
Sinwar's killing in what appeared to be a chance frontline encounter with Israeli troops offers a potential window to shift the dynamic in the Gaza war even as Israel presses its offensive against Hezbollah along its northern border with Lebanon and continues its aerial bombardment in other areas of Lebanon. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are backed by Iran , which hailed Sinwar as a martyr who can inspire others in challenging Israel.
Israel has pledged to destroy Hamas politically in Gaza, and killing Sinwar was a top military priority.
Hamas has not yet commented directly on the Israeli announcement, but photos which were apparently taken by Israeli troops on the scene showed the body of a man who appeared to be Sinwar half-buried in rubble with a gaping wound in his head.
A statement issued by one of Hamas' political leaders abroad Friday seemed to be a reference to Sinwar's death and said Israel is mistaken if it "believes that killing our leaders means the end of our movement and the struggle of the Palestinian people."
