Israel claims major blow to Hamas backers with killing of Iranian commander in Qom

The Israeli military has announced the killing of a senior Iranian commander allegedly involved in orchestrating the deadly October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel.

The strike, carried out on Saturday in the Iranian city of Qom, reportedly killed Saeed Izadi, a key figure in Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In a statement released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir described Izadi as “one of the orchestrators” of the cross-border Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of dozens more into the Gaza Strip.

“The blood of thousands of Israelis is on his hands,” Zamir said.

“This is a tremendous intelligence and operational achievement and marks a significant milestone in our campaign against the architects of terror.”

The IDF did not provide specific details on how the operation was conducted but emphasized it was a targeted strike based on precise intelligence.

Iran has yet to confirm the death of Izadi, and state media have not commented on the incident. Tehran has repeatedly denied any direct role in Hamas’s surprise assault last October, despite its longstanding support for the militant group.

The rare strike deep inside Iranian territory signals an escalation in Israel’s efforts to dismantle the broader regional network it accuses of supporting anti-Israel militancy.

It also raises fresh concerns about a widening of the conflict beyond Gaza and Lebanon, where Israeli forces have been engaged in near-daily exchanges with Hezbollah.

Qom, a religious and political hub in Iran, is considered an unusual target, underscoring the high value Israel placed on Izadi’s alleged role in anti-Israel operations. The strike may further strain an already volatile Middle East security environment.

Analysts say the killing, if confirmed, could provoke a response from Iran and its allies, potentially dragging the region into a broader confrontation.