Hezbollah reacts to killing of Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar

Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group has declared a new and escalating phase in its conflict with Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

This declaration comes in conjunction with Iran’s assertion that “the spirit of resistance will be strengthened” after Sinwar’s death.

Sinwar, who played a key role in the October 7, 2023 attack that ignited the ongoing Gaza war, was killed by Israeli forces during an operation in the Palestinian enclave on Wednesday. This development marks a significant moment in the year-long conflict.

Western leaders have suggested that Sinwar’s death could pave the way for a resolution to the conflict.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that hostilities will persist until Hamas returns all hostages.

READ ALSO :’How Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, was killed during unplanned operation’

“Today, we have settled the score. Today evil has been dealt a blow but our task has still not been completed,” Netanyahu remarked in a video statement following the confirmation of Sinwar’s death.

He also reassured families of hostages, emphasizing, “We will continue full force until all your loved ones, our loved ones, are home.”

Following the assassination of Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last July, Sinwar was appointed as the group’s overall leader. It was reported that he had been hiding within the extensive network of tunnels built by Hamas over the past twenty years. Israeli military officials stated that Sinwar was killed during a firefight in southern Gaza, initially without the troops realizing they had captured one of their principal adversaries.

The military released drone footage purportedly showing Sinwar seated in an armchair, covered in dust, inside a collapsed building. While Hamas has not officially commented on his death, sources within the group indicated that there is evidence supporting the claim of his death by Israeli forces.

Despite hopes from the West for a ceasefire, Sinwar’s death may escalate tensions in a region already fraught with volatility. Israel has recently commenced a ground offensive in Lebanon, in response to a missile attack by Iran, a supporter of both Hamas and Hezbollah.

The killing of Sinwar, who masterminded the attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the capture of over 250 hostages, could potentially revitalize stalled negotiations aimed at ending the war, which has already claimed the lives of more than 42,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

U.S. President Joe Biden, who spoke with Netanyahu to congratulate him, expressed that Sinwar’s death could be a turning point in the conflict in Gaza, facilitating the safe return of Israeli hostages. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller echoed this sentiment, stating, “That obstacle has obviously been removed,” referring to Sinwar as the “chief obstacle” to achieving a ceasefire.

Miller noted that in recent weeks, Sinwar had been unwilling to engage in negotiations. Iran, however, signaled that it would maintain its support, with its U.N. mission stating, “the spirit of resistance will be strengthened” in light of Sinwar’s killing.

Hezbollah responded defiantly, proclaiming “the transition to a new and escalating phase in the confrontation with Israel.” The Israeli military also reported the death of Muhammad Hassin Ramal, Hezbollah’s commander in the Tayibe area of southern Lebanon.

Families of Israeli hostages acknowledged the significance of Sinwar’s death but insisted that their relief would not be complete until all hostages are freed from Gaza.