Jerusalem, October 15: The head of Hamas' Aerial Unit was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip, Israeli military and security agency said. Israel's military and Shin Bet domestic security agency announced in a joint statement the killing of Samer Abu Daqqa, head of Hamas' aerial operations, in an attack by warplanes in September, Xinhua news agency reported. Israel-Hamas War: 18 Palestinians Killed After Israeli Forces Launch Attacks in Northern and Central Gaza Strip.

Abu Daqqa got involved in numerous drone attacks and played a central role in Hamas' aerial operations after succeeding former Hamas aerial array chief Asem Abu Rakaba, who was assassinated by Israel last October, according to the statement. Israel-Hamas War: Israeli Strike on Jabalia Refugee Camp in Gaza Kills 22; World Food Programme Warns of Depleting Food Stocks.

Israeli security officials said Abu Daqqa was also a key figure behind Hamas' paraglider and drone infiltrations into southern Israel during its surprise attack against Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 fatalities and triggered the ongoing Israeli retaliatory campaign in Gaza. The Israeli assaults on Gaza have so far killed 42,289 Palestinians, the Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement on Monday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 15, 2024 08:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).