Israel confirms killing of Hamas' deputy military commander

This photo released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Jan. 23, 2024, shows Israeli troops conducting military operations in the southern Gaza Strip. [Photo/Xinhua]

Israel confirmed Tuesday that Marwan Issa, the deputy military leader of Hamas, was killed in its airstrike on a tunnel in the Gaza Strip earlier in March.

"Tonight I can confirm that, according to our intelligence, Marwan Issa was killed in an attack we carried out about two weeks ago," Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a briefing.

Hagari said Razi Abu Tama'ah, another senior militant of Hamas, was killed with Issa.

On March 11, the IDF claimed an attack on a tunnel in Gaza, where the two were believed to be staying. However, it could not confirm their killing then.