Israel Says Senior Hamas Commander Raed Saad has been Killed in Gaza Airstrike

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday killed Raed Saad, a senior official in Hamas’s military wing, in an airstrike in western Gaza City, according to Israeli and Palestinian sources. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly took responsibility for the strike in a joint statement issued after the end of the Sabbath.

Palestinian reports said at least four people were killed in the attack, including Saad’s security guards. The strike targeted a vehicle near Al-Nabulsi Square, after Saad reportedly emerged from Gaza City’s tunnel network, where he had been operating for an extended period.

IDF: Target Was Leading Figure in Hamas

In a joint statement, the IDF and the Shin Bet said they had struck a “central terrorist” in Hamas’s Gaza City leadership who had recently been involved in efforts to rebuild and manufacture weapons.
Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya reported that the target was Saad, describing him as the second most senior figure in Hamas’s military wing.

Israeli security sources said Saad served as one of the deputies to Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, effectively acting as head of operations and chief of weapons production, overseeing rockets, mortars, and anti-tank missile manufacturing.

Veteran Hamas Leader and Founding Member

Saad previously served as commander of Hamas’s Gaza City Brigade, was among the founders of the group’s military wing, and was a member of its restricted military council. According to Israeli intelligence assessments, he played a role in senior-level decision-making, possessed extensive operational intelligence, and had deep familiarity with Hamas’s tunnel infrastructure.

In November 2023, the IDF offered a $800,000 reward for information leading to Saad’s death, distributing leaflets across the Gaza Strip. A previous assassination attempt in June 2024 failed, with Saad reportedly surviving the strike.

IDF Injuries in Gaza, Strikes in Lebanon

In a separate incident on Saturday, the IDF said two reserve soldiers were lightly wounded when an explosive device detonated during an operation to clear terrorist infrastructure in southern Gaza. The soldiers were evacuated for medical treatment, and their families were notified.

Earlier in the day, the IDF issued an evacuation warning in Arabic to residents of a village in southern Lebanon, citing an imminent strike on a building allegedly used by Hezbollah. The statement instructed civilians to evacuate at least 300 meters from the structure.

On Friday, the IDF conducted airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley, as part of what it described as its ongoing enforcement policy. Among the targets was a training complex used by Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, struck for the second time this week.

According to the IDF, the facility was used for firearms training and weapons instruction aimed at preparing attacks against Israeli forces and civilians. Additional strikes were reported in the areas of Mizr’at Qalat Khamis, Basra, Rayhan, Zakhlata, Al-Mansoura, and Zaliya.

The IDF said another Hezbollah training complex was also struck earlier in the week, underscoring continued Israeli military activity on the northern front.