Latest news with #MilitaryCouncil
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Who is Izz al-Din al-Haddad? Hamas' likely new chief after IDF eliminated Muhammad Sinwar
Izz al-Din al-Haddad is emerging as the key figure expected to lead Hamas after a series of deadly Israeli airstrikes wiped out almost all of the group's senior commanders, reports the Jerusalem Post. Among those killed was Muhammad Sinwar, the head of Hamas's military wing, who had taken over following the deaths of top leaders Yahya Sinwar and Muhammad Deif in 2024. Al-Haddad is a longtime member of Hamas's Military Council, and now appears to be the most senior commander left from the group's pre-war Gaza leadership. Senior role in Hamas military leadership According to the European Council on Foreign Relations, al-Haddad has long been a member of Hamas's Military Council. He has led the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza City since 2021 and, as of November 2023, also commanded Hamas's northern Gaza brigade. Al-Haddad is now believed to be the last surviving member of the five original brigade commanders in Gaza, The Jerusalem Post has reported, making him the most senior figure left to oversee Hamas's military operations. Sinwar's killing in Khan Younis The Israeli defence forces confirmed that Muhammad Sinwar was killed in a May 13 airstrike carried out on the grounds of the European Hospital in Khan Younis. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar The operation also killed Muhammad Shabana, commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade, and Mahdi Quara, who led the South Khan Younis Battalion. The IDF said more than 50 precision munitions were fired within 30 seconds during the attack, hitting an underground Hamas command centre without damaging the hospital above. Sinwar had taken charge of Hamas's military wing after the assassination of Muhammad Deif in July 2024. He was described by Israeli officials as 'among the most senior and long-serving members of Hamas's military wing,' and had been a key figure in the planning of the October 7, 2023, attacks. Al-Haddad's growing influence The Times reported that al-Haddad was involved in the planning of the October 7 assault on Israel, distributing written instructions to commanders the night before the operation. He also played a key role in handling hostages and infrastructure during ceasefires, reportedly overseeing both civilian and military rebuilding efforts in Gaza. Al-Haddad is said to have survived six Israeli assassination attempts and is known to keep a low profile. A $750,000 bounty had previously been placed on him, and he reportedly limits his communications to avoid being tracked. The Times said he holds veto power over hostage release proposals, including those currently on the table, and controls the group responsible for holding the Israeli hostages. A vacuum of leadership After the killings of Yahya Sinwar, Muhammad Deif, and now Muhammad Sinwar, Hamas finds itself with very few senior figures remaining. Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the October 7 attack, was killed in combat in late 2024. His younger brother, Muhammad Sinwar, became the de facto leader until his death in May. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz commented on Sinwar's death, saying: 'Now it is official: The murderer Muhammad Sinwar has been eliminated with the Rafah Brigade commander Muhammad Shabana and the wicked gang who were with them under the European Hospital in Gaza, and he was sent to meet his brother at the gates of hell.' Katz also issued a stark warning: 'Izz al-Din Haddad in Gaza and Khalil al-Hayya abroad, and all their partners in crime, you are next in line.'
United News of India
07-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
2 killed in ambush on security convoy in Syria
Damascus, May 7 (UNI) Two members of Syria's security forces were killed and four others wounded in an ambush on a medical evacuation convoy in the southern province of Sweida on Tuesday, state news agency SANA reported. SANA said the ambush targeted security vehicles transporting wounded civilians from Sweida who had been receiving treatment in the nearby province of Daraa, following last week's armed clashes in the town of al-Surah in Sweida countryside. The convoy was reportedly attacked by "outlawed groups affiliated with the so-called Military Council" while en route back to Sweida. SANA cited an unnamed security official saying that the incident represents a "dangerous escalation" aimed at undermining a local reconciliation agreement previously reached with Druze religious leaders. The official accused the assailants of acting with deliberate intent to disrupt the fragile stability in Sweida by resorting to "deception and sabotage." Sweida has seen a rise in tensions in recent days following sectarian violence and clashes between Druze groups and pro-government forces. The fragile security situation has prompted local and national authorities to initiate talks to avoid further bloodshed, though violations like Tuesday's ambush cast doubt on the durability of those efforts. UNI XINHUA ARN
Shafaq News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
No safety from HTS: Druze plea for UN shield
Shafaq News/ On Friday, the Military Council in Syria's southern al-Suwayda province declared its full support for Druze spiritual leader Sheikh al-Aql Hikmat al-Hijri's appeal for urgent international protection. In a statement posted on Facebook, the council emphasized al-Hijri's role in 'safeguarding the people of Jabal al-Arab.' The council accused Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as al-Nusra Front, of committing war crimes in Druze-populated areas including Sahnaya and Jaramana near Damascus, citing random killings of unarmed civilians, arbitrary arrests, and the humiliation of Druze religious figures and symbols. It further accused HTS of undermining social cohesion through extremist ideology and the use of force, with the Druze identity as a particular target. Calling for immediate action, the council urged the UN Security Council to establish a safe zone in al-Suwayda and its surroundings under neutral international supervision, and called on the UN Human Rights Council to deploy investigation teams and pursue international accountability for those responsible. The council warned foreign backers of HTS against funding what it called 'terrorist groups carrying out sectarian cleansing in violation of international law,' and condemned what it described as international silence over the violence in the affected areas. Earlier, al-Hijri, called for 'rapid and direct international assistance' in a separate statement, saying that 'a government does not kill its people.'
LBCI
03-04-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Lebanon issues decrees on new security appointments — the details
Lebanon issued a series of decrees on Thursday related to security appointments approved by the Lebanese Cabinet during its March 27 meeting. The decrees include: - Decree No. 105, dated April 3, 2025, appointing Brigadier General Fadi Makhoul as General Inspector at the Ministry of National Defense. - Decree No. 106, dated April 3, 2025, appointing Brigadier General Mohammad Al-Amin as General Director of Administration at the Ministry of National Defense. - Decree No. 107, dated April 3, 2025, appointing Brigadier General Youssef Haddad as a member of the Military Council at the Ministry of National Defense. - Decree No. 108, promoting Generals Haddad, Makhoul, and Al-Amin to the rank of Major General. The four decrees were signed by President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, and Defense Minister Michel Menassa.
LBCI
27-03-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Lebanese Cabinet cancels 2025 Brevet exams, confirms election plans
Following a Cabinet session on Thursday, Information Minister Paul Morcos announced several key decisions, including measures related to education, elections, and judicial appointments. The government approved a request from the Ministry of Education to exempt students in both public and private schools from taking the official Brevet exams in 2025, replacing them with school-issued certificates. On the municipal elections, President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed that the Interior Minister is working to ensure they are held on schedule. He also confirmed that security appointments, including those of members of the Military Council, would be completed soon. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the World Bank's proposed mechanism for prioritizing areas eligible for emergency support and appointed Judge Jamal Al-Hajjar as Lebanon's new Cassation Public Prosecutor.
