Watch: Terrifying IDF drone footage shows Yahya Sinwar’s final moments

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed this Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed in a firefight in the Tel Sultan district of Rafah. Yesterday’s operation, led by the 450th Battalion of the Bislamach Brigade, began when a soldier noticed suspicious activity near a structure.

The first sighting and the first attack

A soldier from the 450th Battalion of the Bislamach Brigade reported seeing a suspicious person near a structure around 10:00 a.m. In response, the battalion commander gave the order for the soldiers to open fire on the structure. A few hours later, around 3:00 p.m., IDF drones saw three people coming out of the building and trying to move between apartment buildings. It looked like two had given way to the third, who was later identified as Sinwar.

Renewed attack and melee combat

The gang was injured when the IDF fought back. Sinwar went alone to another building while his companions took shelter nearby. IDF tanks and allied soldiers fired on the two buildings. Sinwar then went to the second floor of the building, where a tank shell hit him. A platoon of troops moved forward to carry out a search. The soldiers had to retreat when Sinwar, who was well equipped, hurled two explosive devices.

Drone monitoring and confirmation

A man with an injured arm and face obscured was spotted by a drone that had entered the building to search for Sinwar. Sinwar threw a wooden stick to shoot down the drone. The battle was over when a tank shell was fired. Troops searching the area this morning found that the person killed looked like Sinwar. The Shin Bet verified people’s identities using fingerprint and DNA analysis. No prisoners were discovered at Sinwar throughout the operation.

Eyewitness accounts and consequences

In the Rafah region, the Givati ​​Brigade was recently replaced by the Bislamach Brigade. The battalion commander of the 450th Battalion was injured on October 7th during a rapid operation on the border with the Gaza Strip. An operation participant who was a soldier at the time of the attack confirmed Sinwar’s identity in a recently released audio tape. When the drone arrived, Sinwar made an attempt to shoot it down. A final shot confirmed his demise.

Further review underway

To officially verify Sinwar’s identity, further DNA and fingerprint tests are currently being carried out. The operation is part of the IDF’s ongoing campaigns in Gaza targeting Hamas commanders and fighters.