Israel says it killed Iranian commander who helped fund, arm Hamas
Context:
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the killing of Saeed Izadi, an Iranian commander linked to funding and arming Hamas, in an airstrike in Qom. Izadi, who was tied to the planning of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, was a major figure in transferring weapons and funds to Hamas. His death is seen as a significant intelligence and operational success for Israel, which also uncovered an underground command center in Gaza revealing ongoing communications with Hamas leaders. The IDF also reported the killing of Benham Shariyari, another Iranian commander responsible for weapon transfers to various Middle Eastern proxies. These actions are part of Israel's ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities and disrupt Iran's support networks for regional terrorist organizations.
Dive Deeper:
Saeed Izadi, a key Iranian commander in the Quds Force, was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Qom for his role in orchestrating and funding Hamas operations, including a significant attack on Israel in October 2023.
Israeli forces discovered documents in an underground command center in Gaza that showed Izadi's involvement in planning the supply of $46 million worth of weapons to Hamas, thwarted by Israeli intelligence efforts.
The death of Izadi, who had been sanctioned by both the U.S. and U.K., is viewed as a major setback to Iran's efforts to arm and fund Hamas and represents a notable victory for Israeli intelligence operations.
In addition to Izadi, Israeli operations also targeted and killed Benham Shariyari in Tehran, who was integral in managing weapon transfers from Iran to Hezbollah, Hamas, and other proxies.
Israel's actions are part of a broader strategy to weaken Hamas's military capabilities and disrupt Iran's influence in the region, highlighting the ongoing geopolitical tensions and military engagements between Israel and Iranian-backed forces.